CRICKET fans are urged to be on the ball and arrive early for this week's Test match in the North-East.

Police and ground authorities at Durham's Riverside ground, at Chester-le-Street, are bracing themselves for packed houses for the opening three days, at least, of the fourth and final match of the npower England v West Indies series, starting on Friday.

Although England won the series with yesterday's victory in the third Test, at Old Trafford, interest is high as the Riverside stages the most high profile five-day fixture in its 12-year history.

Sell-out 16,000 crowds are expected for the opening three days and Durham Police is deploying a mix of regular bobbies, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special constables to ensure it runs smoothly.

Crowd safety and security within the ground are issues mainly to be overseen by stewards, but police expect their main role to be maintaining a free flow of traffic and preventing indiscriminate parking affecting local residents.

Thousands of spaces have been made available in the official car parks at the Riverside with ample sign-posting on all main routes leading to the ground.

Chief Inspector John Bell said: "Although the game will not start until 11am each day we would ask fans arriving by car to get to the ground in good time.

"There are plenty of parking spaces available in the designated areas.

"On-street parking in neighbouring areas will be restricted and PCSOs will be patrolling these streets to ensure residents are not inconvenienced."

Ticket-holders arriving by car from the A1(M) should use the inside lane of the A167 Park Road approaching the Riverside from Blind Lane interchange, while all other traffic should take the outside lane.

Extra trains will run to and from Chester-le-Street Railway Station and Durham County Council-run park and ride services will operate at Belmont and Sniperley, on Friday, Belmont and County Hall, Durham, on Saturday, and County Hall only on Sunday.

Ground regulations prohibit spectators from taking alcohol into the stadium, although drink will be available from licensed outlets at the Riverside.

Anyone intruding on the playing area faces ejection from the ground and possible arrest.