AN EARLY start and staggered road re-openings at this year's Swindon Half will hopefully provoke fewer complaints from drivers.

All roads closed along the route will re-open as soon as the last runner has gone past.

The roads connecting east Swindon will mostly be affected early in the morning from 8am and are expected to open again by 10am.

Roads around the Outlet Village will be affected until 10.30am and drivers through Old Town will need to avoid closed roads throughout the morning.

Queens Drive from the Magic Roundabout towards Coate Water Park and Dorcan Way up to Dorcan Academy is expected to be closed until 9am.

The Greenbridge roundabout and Stratton Road will be closed until around 9.30am, and Bridgend Road, Cirencester Way towards the Transfer Bridges which will be closed until 10am.

Roads around the Outlet Village, including Kemble Drive and Penzance Drive, will both be closed in one direction until 10.30am

The A3102 Wootton Bassett Road between Penzance Drive and Redpost Drive in the direction from Mannington Roundabout into town will be shut until around 10:45am.

Old Town will be partially closed for most of the morning, with Wood Street and the Co-op roundabout shut and Victoria Road closed on both sides until Union Row, where it will be closed on one side.

Commercial Road and Market Street past the Tented Market will be closed on both sides until the race finishes around noon.

Car parks on Princess Street or behind Debenhams provide a half-mile walk to the start and are closer to the race finish.

The two biggest car parks closest to the race are the Brunel North multi-storey and the Fleming way car park.

Organisers are urging runners and families to allow plenty of time to park and get to the start line in time for the race.

Swindon Bus Company has announced a number or changes to its bus services which will be made on Sunday morning to accommodate the event.

In South-East Swindon, Services 1 and 1A from the Town Centre to Great Western Hospital will be suspended between approximately 7.45 and 8.45 due to the closure of Queens Drive.

Service 2 from Town Centre to Covingham and Nythe will be suspended between approximately 7.45 and 9.35 due to the closure of Queens Drive and Dorcan Way.

Due to the same closures Services 13 and 14, Town Centre to Eldene and Liden, will also be suspended from 7.45 until 9.05 approximately.

Service 5, Town Centre to Park North, will be suspended from 7.45 until 8.45 approximately.

Service 17, Town Centre to Park South, will also be suspended from 7.45 until 8.45 approximately.

For North Swindon, Service 17 from Town Centre to Penhill will divert from Fleming Way via Emlyn Square, Church Place, Rodbourne Road, Great Western Way, Cricklade Road re-joining the normal route at Gorse Hill South. Coming back towards town buses will follow normal route to Gorse Hill North, then divert via Ferndale Road, Rodbourne Road, Church Place and Emlyn Square to Fleming Way. This will operate from 8.10 until 10am approximately.

Service 11, Town Centre to Haydon Wick and Taw Hill, will also divert via Emlyn Square, Church Place, Rodbourne Road and Great Western Way, but then via Whitehouse Road and normal route. Towards town buses will turn from St. Mary’s Grove into Ferndale Road and then go via Rodbourne Road, Church Place and Emlyn Square to Fleming Way. This will also apply from 8.10am until 10am approximately.

Service 5 from Town Centre to Haydon Wick has no diversions.

In West Swindon, Services 1 and 1A from Town Centre to Middleleaze will divert from Rodbourne Road via Great Western Way to Mannington Roundabout then normal route between 8.20 and 10.40 approximately. No change for buses towards to town. Service 19 Town Centre to Sparcells will also divert from Rodbourne Road via Great Western Way to Meads Roundabout, then normal route. Again no change to buses towards town, and also from 8.20 until 10.40 approximately.

Old Town and Wichelstowe. Service 11 from Town Centre to Middle Wichel will be suspended from 8.30 until midday approximately due to various road closures along the route.

Town Centre. Commercial Road will be closed from 8.45 until 12.15 approximately, buses on Services 1, 1A, 5 and 19 running instead via London Street, Sheppard Street and Station Road to Fleming Way.