Roads warning over Staffordshire Ironman race

Drivers are being warned of delays, particularly around Cannock Chase, Shugborough and north of Brownhills as a complex series of road closures is set up for the Sunday event.

Around 2,700 competitors are taking part from across the globe, while thousands more supporters and spectators are expected to line the route.

Many areas will also suffer problems on Saturday as an Ironkids children's event takes place.

Signs started going up along the route 10 days ago to alert people early to possible roads chaos.

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Kevin Stewart, managing director of Events Crew UK which is organising the event, said: "The idea of putting the signage up so early is to avoid problems on the roads. Hopefully people will plan ahead if they want to travel through the area this weekend."

The busiest roads affected will be around Cannock Chase, the A513 between Shugborough and Rugeley, and the A5, north of Brownhills.

Places for the competition sold out in just 14 minutes when registration opened last August.

Organisers said at the time they were over the moon at how popular the Staffordshire event was proving to be.

Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire will include a 13.1 mile run from Shugborough Hall in Stafford, 56-mile bike ride and a 1.2 mile swim at Chasewater Country Park near Burntwood. The total miles covered add up to 70.3.