A TRAIN operator has warned customers in Cheshire and Merseyside it is advising ‘essential travel only’ this weekend.

Northern says this Sunday in particular is expected to be ‘very busy’ across the region.

Thousands of festivalgoers are set to descend on Warrington for Neighbourhood Weekender on Saturday and Sunday, with My Chemical Romance performing tonight, Friday.

The event, which takes place in Victoria Park, is expected to attract thousands of people for headline sets by Courteeners, Kasabian and Blossoms.

Northern operates late-night services from both Warrington Central and Warrington Bank Quay, both of which are a 25-min walk from Victoria Park.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “We are doing all we can to prepare for the Warrington Weekender festival.

“We are asking our customers to plan ahead, expect services to be very busy, allow extra time for journeys, and where possible to avoid travelling during the busiest times.”

Football fans will also be flocking to screens across Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp‘s Reds head to Paris for the Champions League final, so customers are being asked to plan ahead for their journeys.

A fan park has been set up in at the M&S Bank Arena to allow football enthusiasts to soak up the atmosphere.

There will be a victory parade on Sunday through Liverpool from 4pm, expected to attract more than 800,000 fans to celebrate the team's successes of the football season.

The rail operator is advising customers travelling to and from Merseyside on Sunday to only use its services for essential purposes only.

Chris added: “On Sunday, capacity in and around Merseyside will be significantly reduced because of engineering work and industrial action on other operators.

“We are therefore asking customers to use the train for essential purposes only.”