ROAD closure signs are springing up on stretches of the Tour de Yorkshire route ahead of it coming to Bradford district at the start of next month.

Haworth, Laycock and Addingham and Ilkley will all have roads sealed off from 9am until as late as 5pm on Sunday, May 3.

However the closed roads will re-open as soon as the racing cyclists have past safely through.

But the event organisers and Bradford Council are confident wide-spread traffic disruption will be kept to a minimum due to a policy of allowing drivers to use the vast majority of the route apart from limited delays.

"Most will be rolling road closures lasting no more than an hour, apart from the start and finish lines and some climbs," a Tour de Yorkshire spokesman said.

Organisers are hoping that crowds similar to those at last year's Tour de France Grand Depart will gather along the route - with the possibility of a million spectators turning out to see the inaugural race.

Police will monitor and control closures and the local authority has now released details of sections were roads will be closed for variable lengths of time between 9am to 5pm on the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend.

A Council spokesman said: "In order to minimise disruption to residents during the Tour de Yorkshire, most of the route will be managed using rolling road closures.

"These are planned to last no more than an hour.

“There will be certain key areas within the district where, due to the nature of the landscape and for the safety of riders and spectators sections of the route will need to be closed to vehicles.

"These roads will still be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

"The following places will have road closures for the Tour de Yorkshire: Main Street, Haworth; Holme House Lane, Laycock; Goose Eye, Laycock; Goose Eye Brow, Laycock; Main Street, Addingham and The Grove, Ilkley.

"The road closures are planned for between 9am and 5pm on Sunday, May 3, but will be lifted as soon as the race has passed through.

“We will be writing to residents and businesses on the route of the Tour de Yorkshire to let them know about the road closures and any parking restrictions that apply to them."