ORGANISERS of the Olympic flame’s historic journey through York say they hope to keep traffic disruption to a minimum during the two-day visit and have issued advice to motorists on road closures.

City of York Council is advising drivers to avoid the route of the torch on June 19 and 20 as rolling road closures are enforced to allow the runners and the 200-strong cycle escort to pass through the city.

The closure will begin on Tadcaster Road’s in-bound lane and Blossom Street from 5.10pm to 6pm.

The cross-town route of Rougier Street to Tower Street will be closed to through traffic between 5.45pm and 6.30pm and Shambles will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians between 5.45pm and 6.30pm.

The route will take in the Bar Walls and city centre before ending at Knavesmire for the planned free concert.

The second day will see the flame set out from York Minster at 7.44am, when it will head out from under Bootham Bar on its way to the National Railway Museum, before it leaves the city by train, for Thirsk.

Assistant chief constable Iain Spittal, who is leading the North Yorkshire Police leg of the operation, said: “If you are out and about to welcome the torch, our advice is to plan ahead, check parking arrangements in advance, park considerately and help keep the event safe and secure for everyone involved.”

Throughout the whole region drivers are also being asked to be aware of extra traffic heading into towns and cities for Olympic Torch Relay celebrations.

Vanessa Gilbert, Highways Agency regional director for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “Road users who are planning to use routes in Yorkshire and the north-east near relay venues can help us to help them by planning their journey in advance and leaving extra time to complete journeys.”