Villagers are being warned to expect traffic chaos when thousands of cars converge on Oxfordshire for the Network Q Rally.

Every home in Charlbury has been warned to expect traffic jams when part of the rally - the biggest sporting spectator event in the country - takes place at Cornbury Park on Sunday morning.

Rally fans - in an estimated 5,000 cars - are due to start arriving from 6.30am and will not be gone until early afternoon. The estate's agents have drawn up detailed plans with police to try to minimise nuisance and they have sent out letters to residents.

A similar rally staged last year at Blenheim Palace caused traffic bottlenecks. Lessons have been learned from that, says Cornbury agent Simon Drummond-Hay.

Spectators are being directed through two entrances, one at the main gates on the outskirts of Charlbury and the other at Finstock Hill.

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