Police have warned motorists to prepare for delays when an abnormal load is transported through Wiltshire and Gloucestershire on Thursday.

Gloucestershire Constabulary have issued the alert as offiers will be escorting an RAF Chinook helicopter through the Cotswolds at around 9.30am. They say the journey will take around an hour to go through the county.

The escort will be entering the county via the A40 at Burford and travelling along the A40 to Northleach.

It will then join the A429 and continue onto the A417/A419 at Cirencester for its onward journey through Wiltshire.

Due to the size of the load and the escort taking narrow roads, drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys or find alternative routes.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Police are escorting an abnormal load through the Cotswolds tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 26).

“The escort of an RAF Chinook helicopter will begin at around 9.30am and is estimated to take approximately one hour.

 “The escort will be entering the county via the A40 at Burford and initially travelling along the A40 to Northleach.

“It will then join the A429 and continue onto the A417/A419 at Cirencester for it's onward journey through Wiltshire.

“Due to the size of the load and the escort taking narrow roads, drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys or find alternative routes.

“We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.”