SCHOOLS churches, community organisations and faith groups will come together this weekend for Warrington Walking Day.

The annual event is one of the most popular, vibrant and exciting days in Warrington’s calendar and is a tradition since the event started in the 1800s.

Thousands of people will be lining the traditional route on Friday to enjoy the popular occasion.

At precisely 10.30am members of the Parish Church will, by tradition, walk through the beautiful and famous ceremonial gates to begin the procession.

To ensure the event can go ahead safely, a number of road closures will be in place. They are as follows:

Phase 1 – between 7.30am and 1pm

Sankey Street, between Crosfield Street and Legh Street

Winmarleigh Street, between Sankey Street and Museum Street

Phase 2 – between 8am and 1pm

Closure of remaining streets within the town centre, apart from those covered under Phase 3

Access to Time Square multi-storey car park will be maintained

Phase 3 – between 9am and 1pm

Dial Street, Buttermarket Street, Academy Street, James Street, Naylor Street and Orford Street

Bank Street, between Academy Way and Moulders Lane

Church Street between Manchester Road and Farrell Street

Crosfield Street between Midland Way and Sankey Street

Procession routes

In addition to the above, there are four procession routes into the town centre.

Phased road closures will be applied to allow for the safe passage of the schools, churches, community organisations and faith groups into and out of the town centre, before and after the main walk.

Route 1 – between 9am and 10am

Outbound section of Knutsford Road from Grange Avenue, Latchford to Bridge Foot, and across Bridge Foot into Bridge Street

New Road, between Lord Street and York Street

York Street, between New Road and Knutsford Road

Route 2 – between 9.25am and 10am

Church Street, between Farrell Street and Mersey Street

Route 3 – between 9.30am and 1pm

Rhodes Street, Buckley Street, Legh Street, Edgworth Street, Bewsey Street, Orford Lane, Pinners Brow, Tanners Lane, Midland Way, Legh Street and Bath Street

Route 4 – between 10am and 1pm

Liverpool Road, between Milner Street and Crosfield Street

Milner Street

Deliveries for residents and businesses

If you live or run a business within the town centre, access to your property will be restricted while road closures are in place on Walking Day.

It is advised that deliveries are rescheduled for when all roads have re-opened.