MOTORISTS will face diversions and delays in Knebworth during the first weekend of August while a music festival takes place.

Between Friday, August 2, and Monday, August 5, around 20,000 people will flock to Knebworth Park for the Eastern Electrics 2013 Festival, a three-day underground house and techno dance event.

As the majority of revellers are expected to arrive and depart by car, police will place some restrictions on the surrounding roads to keep traffic flowing.

The most significant traffic measures are as follows:

* A1(M) Junction 7 (Stevenage south) northbound entry and southbound exit slip roads and Whittle Way from A602 Broadhall Way will be closed between 00.01am on Friday, August 2 and 4pm on Monday, August 5.

* Drivers End Lane junction of B656 Hitchin Road, Codicote, to junction with Nup End, Old Knebworth road closure from 10am from Friday to Monday.

* Hitchin Lane junction with the B656 to the junction with Drivers End Lane road closure from 10am on Friday.

* Old Knebworth Lane – from Odyssey Health Club to the junction with Park Lane – will be closed from noon on Friday until noon on the Monday.

Access to Odyssey Health Club will be maintained throughout these times.

Diversion routes will be in place.

Once all pedestrians are clear of the venue, the motorway slip road closures will be removed as soon as possible.

Sergeant Richard Cruse, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Traffic flow will be monitored closely during the course of the weekend, however we would strongly advise festival goers to leave plenty of time for their journey and try to avoid arriving between 3pm and 7pm on Friday when the area will be busy with rush hour traffic.

“We would also advise local residents to familiarise themselves with the restrictions, leave extra time for their journey and plan alternative routes.”