Manchester Marathon: Roads shut for thousands of runners

More than 30,000 have signed up to take part in Sunday's marathon

Roads around Manchester have closed as thousands of runners pass through the city's streets for the UK's second largest marathon.

People have been warned to expect travel disruption during the event, which started at 08:55 at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

The route covers the city centre, Chorlton, Altrincham, Hulme, Stretford and other areas of Trafford.

The Manchester Marathon attracted 24,000 entrants last year.

The event includes elite entrants alongside first-time marathon runners and those raising funds for charity.

The Manchester Marathon was established in its current form in 2012

Most of affected roads are shut between 03:00 and 20:00 BST on Sunday, organisers have said, but parts of Talbot Road and Warwick Road in Trafford shut from as early as 08:00 on Saturday.

A rolling series of closures will be in place along the rest of the course throughout Sunday, with some routes only open to one-way traffic.

Organisers are expecting 32,000 people take part in the race.

City road closures that are in place on Sunday include the following:

THE A56 SOUTHBOUND WILL BE CLOSED:

• 03:00 - 16:30 Deansgate Interchange to Edge Lane

• 07:30 - 20:00 Edge Lane to Ashfield Road (one lane open to access M60 from Green Street)

• 07:30 - 16:30 Ashfield Road to Stamford Brook Road

THE A56 NORTHBOUND WILL BE CLOSED:

• 03:00 - 20:00 Barton Road to Edge Lane

• 07:30 - 16:30 White City Circle to Deansgate Interchange

• 03:00 - 16:30 Edge Lane to White City Circle

• 07:30 - 16:30 Stamford Brook Road to Barton Road

• 07:30 - 14:00 John Dalton Street to Deansgate Interchange (in both directions)

M60 JUNCTION 7 CLOSED 06:30 - 20:00

There is no exit from the M60 at junction 7 in either direction. Traffic travelling in both directions that wish to leave the M60 at Junction 7 will need to leave at Junction 6, 8, or 9 depending on the destination.

Access on to the M60 at junction 7 will be restricted; the anticlockwise on slip road will remain accessible only for vehicles from the Stretford Meadows Estate, and the clockwise on slip road will remain accessible only for vehicles from the Sale Travelodge.