LONG queues of traffic were building up around the Suffolk Showground early today as thousands of people flocked to the first day of the event.Tailbacks of up to ten miles were reported as the crowds descended on the site, in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.

LONG queues of traffic were building up around the Suffolk Showground early today as thousands of people flocked to the first day of the event.

Tailbacks of up to ten miles were reported as the crowds descended on the site, in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.

A police spokeswoman said traffic was "heavy" but moving "relatively freely" as the first of the expected 50,000 visitors made their way to the event from 7.30am.

Motorists were being ferried towards the showground on routes set up by the Suffolk police traffic officers.

The Seven Hills roundabout and Copdock Interchange were reported to be particularly congested during the morning rush hour. The congestion was expected to ease as the day went on until the mass exodus began in the early evening.

Sergeant Colin Teager appealed for motorists to be patient on what is one of the busiest days of the year for the county's traffic police.

He said: "This is one of the main events on the calendar for us.

"The message to people is from whatever direction you're coming in is to follow the directed routes."

Mr Teager revealed plans had been made to remove any broken down vehicles on the main routes to the showground as quickly as possible.

Leave and rest days for police traffic officers had also been cancelled for the day, with most on duty from 6am to co-ordinate the early traffic.

Mr Teager added: "It's important people stayed on the main routes because otherwise the surrounding roads would become snarled up.

"We've got measures in place to clear any blocked roads as quickly as possible to make sure the traffic keeps flowing."

See pages 6 and 7 for Suffolk Show coverage