Racing event kicks off busy weekend in Newbury

Thousands of visitors head to Newbury for racing weekend and for the Royal County of Berkshire Show

CHANGEABLE weather and busy traffic can be expected around Newbury this weekend as the Dubai Duty Free event at Newbury Racecourse gets underway today (Friday) and the Royal County of Berkshire Show begins tomorrow.

At the racecourse today wine merchants Haynes and Hanson & Clark will be celebrating the 31st running and sponsorship of the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Stakes, the longest running Flat race sponsorship at the Berkshire track, as well as the third most long standing sponsorship on the Flat, behind the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and the John Smith's Cup at York.

Tomorrow there will be seven Flat races including The Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial, The Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy, The Dubai Duty Free Handicap Stakes valued at £75,000 and the £60,000 Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.

Meanwhile, thousands of visitors will be descending on Newbury Showground tomorrow for the start of the two-day agricultural show.

A detailed guide to the show is available inside this week's edition of the Newbury Weekly News.

Light drizzles of rain can be expected and Sunday is due to be cooler but with a mixture of sun with a risk of showers.

Visitors are advised to arrive early at the Newbury Showground as traffic is expected to peak around lunchtime. Access from the east is available via the B4009.

There are also ongoing roadworks on the M4 which could cause problems in and around the Chieveley area.

The M4 westbound entry slip at junction 13 (Chieveley) will be closed overnight from 10pm on Friday (16) until 6am on Saturday.

On the M4 westbound between junction 13 (Chieveley) and junction 14 (Hungerford), and motorists should expect delays of up to 10 minutes at peak times due to roadworks closing two lanes, between 9pm and 6am until Saturday (17).

Disabled parking is available adjacent to the Newbury Building Society Gate to the west of the Showground.

Special buses will again be running to the show, with the number 10 shuttle buses running from 7.45am from Thatcham Broadway and every half hour thereafter until 2.15pm.

The special service will also operate from Newbury bus station, Bay H, starting at 8am and every half hour until 2.30pm.

Buses will depart from the showground at 8.15am and then every half hour until 7.45pm.

For traffic updates and show reports over the weekend, visit newburytoday.co.uk