Ledbury residents are being warned of road closures when the town hosts the Three Shires Stages Rally later this year.

The event, organised by Cheltenham Motor Club, will take place on the weekend of September 17 and 18.

Previous rallies were based at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern but this year’s rally HQ and service park will be at HJ Pugh & Co Auction Centre, off Ross Road in Ledbury.

Organisers have said they are also looking at opportunities to provide camping facilities nearby and will give further details closer to the event.

Last year’s event saw 140 cars racing on 66 miles of closed roads in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Ledbury High Street was also closed for a number of hours for the rally’s ceremonial start, which sees the competitors line up before passing a start ramp.

Ledbury Reporter: Residents can expect road closures when the rally returns in SeptemberResidents can expect road closures when the rally returns in September

Details of spectator areas for the 2022 event will be made publicly available about two weeks before the rally.

But the provisional stage times and a draft stage map will be available for residents to see at a number of ‘Meet us’ sessions being run by Cheltenham Motor Club over the coming weeks.

Sessions will take place at Upleadon Village Hall on Saturday, May 7 between 11am and 2pm, and at Ledbury’s town centre market on Saturday, May 14 from 9am onwards. More sessions will be announced on the motor club website and Facebook page.

A letter from the motor club shared by Ledbury Town Council says roads will be closed between 6am and 8pm on the day of the rally, but that residents will be allowed access at times throughout the day.

Those affected by the closures will also be given the contact details for a dedicated resident liaison officer, who will be their main point of contact throughout the day.

Liaison officer Jeff Wheeler said last year that everybody affected by the rally was contacted and given detailed information.

“They have all got residents’ handbooks and the ones that are on the stages get vehicle passes as well,” he said. “They certainly will not be imprisoned all day.”