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VIDEO & PICTURES: Roads busy as fans descend for V Festival

[gallery] Heavy traffic was reported in Shropshire today as fans started to arrive at Weston Park for this year's V Festival, although the weather appeared to be making it quieter than in previous years.

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The gates opened at 8am. with police urging drivers to expect delays on the A5, A41, M54, A449, A460 and M6.

Traffic began to build up along the A5 between Ivetsey Road and the A41 at Weston Heath.

There was also slow traffic along the A41 between the B5314 Weston Heath and the A5

Sophie Powers, of the Highways Agency, said: "Everything is running smoothly. We have patrols on the A5, M54 and M6 and everyone is abiding by the traffic system in place.

"We've had a few problems with people stopping on hard shoulders but other than it is quiet- this may be because of the weather."

The Highways Agency issued advice for people driving to the festival to help them avoid road closures.

Signs will direct festival traffic on different routes depending on which direction it is arriving from. Festival-goers arriving from the north travelling southbound should use the M6 junction 12 exit. Traffic travelling from the south along the M6 will not be able to exit at junction 12 of the M6, and should follow signs for the M54, as should traffic travelling from the west.

Slow traffic on the A5 outside Weston Park

Staffordshire Police Superintendent Elliott Sharrard-Williams, police lead event commander, said: "Drivers should not use a sat-nav or internet route map but follow the event directional signs as there will be some road closures in place."The village of Tong and some local roads (Beighton Lane leading to Blymhill Gate, Old Chester Road and Mill Lane) will be closed to festival traffic but will be staffed by stewards to ensure residents and emergency services have full access."

More than 100 acts are taking part in this year's festival include Stereophonics, Olly Murs, Kasabian, James Bay, Tom Jones and The Charlatans.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival has a wide array of acts performing on Saturday and Sunday across all four stages. There will also be a variety of attractions including Frankie Boyle and Seann Walsh at the Comedy Tent, as well as a range of grime, indie, soul and hip hop acts at the Our House tent.

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