DRIVERS are being warned that several roads will be closed during tonight’s Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony on Tyneside.

An all-star line-up including Sting, Mark Knopfler and Ant and Dec will perform in the spectacular show on The Quayside as the countdown starts to the one millionth finisher of the half marathon on Sunday.

Doors open at 7.30pm and the ceremony is expected to be over by 10pm.

Police have warned that a number of roads in the area will be closed between 6pm and midnight including Quayside Road, Sandhill, The Swing Bridge, Bottle Bank, Pipewellgate, Broad Chare and South Shore Road.

In particular, drivers are being warned the Tyne Bridge will be closed between 8.30pm and 10.30pm.

Superintendent Gillian Mitchell, of Northumbria Police, said: "We will be supporting the organisers throughout the event to ensure there is minimum disruption to motorists in the area and that traffic is flowing.

"There may be minor delays as there will be extra traffic in the area and motorists may want to leave slightly longer for their journey."

Further information about the event is available at www.gnrmillion.org