Long delays are building up in Marlborough as the High Street closed to traffic at noon today to allow fairground workers to set up for tomorrow's traditional mop fair.

Traffic heading into the town on the A4 from Beckhampton was backed up almost to the Manton junction at around 2.30pm, even before the start of the afternoon hometime run of coaches and cars from St John's Academy and the other town schools.

All traffic is being funelled through George Lane.

The mop fair opens tomorrow at noon, with an official ceremony outside the Castle and Ball Hotel.

It is traditional for the town MP, Claire Perry, and the Mayor to mark the start by taking a whirl on one of the fairground rides.