ONCE again organisers of Bridgwater Carnival have teamed up with The Buses of Somerset to provide a park and ride service for spectators attending this year’s carnival.

This year there are four park and ride sites:

- Junction 24, M5, Market Way, North Petherton. TA6 6DF (blue) - opens at 2pm

- British Car Auctions, Bristol Road, (off J23, M5) TA6 4TN (green) - opens at 2.30pm

- Hinkley Point C, Bristol Road, Dunball, TA6 4TN. (yellow) - opens at 2.30pm

- Morrisons Manufacturing, Bristol Road, TA6 4AT (red) - opens at 10:30am

Park and Ride charges are £6 per car plus £1 per adult travelling, and children under 16 are free.

All park and ride sites will close at midnight.

Due to the earlier procession start time of 6pm, the main roads leading into Bridgwater will be closing down from 4pm.

Several car parks around the town will be open for carnival.

Parking costs £6 and many have parking bays for blue badge holders.

Up to 120,000 spectators expected for the largest illuminated carnival in Europe, traffic levels are expected to increase between junctions 23 and 24 of the M5 throughout late afternoon and evening.

Gareth Price, Highways England emergency planning officer for the South West, said: “The carnival is a popular event in the south west and can lead to increased traffic volumes between junctions 24 and 23 of the M5, particularly between late afternoon and early evening and from 9pm onwards.