DRIVERS are being warned of road closures ahead of the world-class racing event arriving in Southend.

The Fourth Stage race is scheduled to begin at East Beach, Shoebury at 11am on Thursday, October 7.

It comes to a finish at around 2pm-3pm along the seafront outside The Arches Cafes, Southend.

A number of roads in the area will be shut including: Rampart Terrace, George Street and Dane Street, from 4am to 3pm.

In Westcliff the following roads will be closed: Chalkwell Esplanade, The Leas and Grosvenor Road, Shorefield Road and Western Esplanade.

These streets will be shut from 4am to 11.59pm on Thursday.

A number of main roads will be under rolling closures including high streets in Southend, Rochford and Great Wakering and Shoebury, Wakering Road, Poynters Lane, Shoebury Road, New Road, High Street Wakering, Little Wakering Road and, Barrow Hall Road.

Other main routes set to shut include: Barling Road, Shopland Road, Sutton Road, Rayleigh Road, Progress Road, The Fairway, Eastwood Road North, Eastwood Road, A13 London Road and Chalkwell Avenue.

From 5pm on Wednesday through to 4.55pm on Thursday, all parking in London Road, from Eastwood Road to Chalkwell Avenue, is stopped.

Event bosses say this is necessary to ensure the route is safe for cyclists.

Other parking has been stopped in Progress Road, Chalkwell Avenue, Rampart Street and Terrace and Shoebury High Street.

The council says waste and recycling collections could be affected on Thursday.

Event bosses advise good viewing points are: East Beach, Western Esplanade and Southend Cliff Gardens.