A STERN warning has been issued to people tempted to walk along the motorway to head to Creamfields.

The annual music festival is being held this bank holiday weekend, with 70,000 revellers set to descend on Daresbury between Thursday and Sunday.

As a result, traffic is likely to be extremely busy, not only on roads leading to the festival site, but also on the M56.

Those caught in queues on the motorway however that are tempted to get out of cars and walk are being strongly urged not to do so.

Extra police and National Highways traffic officers will be deployed around junction 11 of the M56 at Daresbury to deter festivalgoers from walking on the motorway.

National Highways says this has been an issue in previous stagings of the festival, and particularly at the end of the event.

READ MORE> All the road closures for Creamfields

READ MORE> The items you are banned from taking to Creamfields

Drivers are being reminded that anyone stopping on the motorway hard shoulder or live lanes to drop off or pick up festivalgoers risks an on-the-spot fine.

Anyone caught walking anywhere along the motorway carriageway also risks being fined.

Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner, said: “We will be doing all we can to manage traffic around the event and keep drivers on the move.

“Festivalgoers and other drivers can help themselves by planning their journeys and keeping themselves up to date with traffic information.

“We would like to remind everyone that the motorway is no place for pedestrians.

“It is dangerous and illegal, and having pedestrians on the network can cause delays for legitimate motorway users.

“Drivers wanting to pick people up should use the dedicated collection points off the motorway network, which will be clearly signed.”

Anyone thinking of driving to the annual bank holiday festival is advised to plan their journey and leave plenty of time to get to the festival site.

Drivers are also being urged to follow dedicated signs to the site and not rely on sat nav information, which could put vehicles on unsuitable, narrow roads.

Car parks to the site will open at midday on Thursday and close at 2pm on bank holiday Monday.

Eventgoers travelling from north, south and east of the venue will be directed to use junction 11 of the M56, while traffic from the west will be directed to use junction 12.

National Highways traffic officers at the regional operations centre in Newton-le-Willows will use electronic motorway signs to guide festivalgoers to the site and give information on any incidents or congestion.