thousands of cricket fans who will flock to next week's international day-night game in the North-East have been warned to set off early.

A crowd of 12,000 is expected at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground, in Chester-le-Street, on Tuesday for the NatWest limited overs match between England and New Zealand.

If the 50-over match runs its course, the game should end under the floodlights at about 10.15pm.

About 40 police officers, special constables and police community support officers (PCSOs) will be on duty for the event, which starts at 2.30pm.

Along with the club's stewards and district council workers, they will be responsible for the free flow of traffic, parking arrangements, security, crowd behaviour, first aid and general safety.

More than 5,000 parking spaces have been set aside for fans in the ground's north and south car parks.

Residents living near the ground have been given passes and, on the day, PCSOs will patrol neighbouring streets looking for illegal parking and vehicles that are causing an obstruction.

The roads are expected to be particularly busy between 1pm and 2.30pm.

Police are advising anyone not travelling to the cricket to steer clear of the area if possible.

Traffic is expected to be particularly heavy at the Blind Lane A1(M) interchange.

To ease the pressure, drivers approaching from the south will be advised to leave the motorway at junction 59, at Bradbury, and head up the A167 to Chester-le-Street.

Police are reminding spectators that they cannot take alcohol into the stadium. Drink will, however, be sold at the ground's bars.

Durham County Cricket Club staff will enforce ground regulations but the police will help if anyone misbehaves.

Inspector Dave Marshall said: "We are now quite used to the big one-day matches at Chester-le-Street, and, of course, last year we had the Test match against Zimbabwe.

"The police, ground authorities and the other agencies involved have established a set of procedures over the last few years which, touch wood, have worked very smoothly.

"Those coming to the game can help greatly by setting off in good time and heading for the designated car parks."