THOUSANDS of people are limbering up to watch or take part in the Ironman UK race — but what are the practicalities for the day?

Families, friends and residents have descended on the borough to watch more than 1,000 competitors take part in tomorrow's hardcore endurance event being held in Bolton for the eighth time.

Athletes will be swimming in Pennington Flash in Leigh, cycling two laps of a 106-mile loop through the countryside around Chorley and running from the Macron Stadium in Horwich towards Bolton town centre where the finishing straight is in Le Mans Crescent.

The children's version, Ironkids, takes place today and starts and ends in Le Mans Crescent.

Carrie Ashton, revenue manager at Holiday Inn Bolton, said: "The majority of our 132 rooms are taken for this weekend.

"A lot of guests are telling us when they're booking so we know they're here for the competition.

"It's extremely positive. It's very good — and every year it's like this."

Bolton Council has put road closures in place and marshals will be on hand to permit access for emergency services, residents, and businesses.

Le Mans Crescent is shut from both its Deansgate and Ashburner Street entrance until noon on Monday while Knowsley Street to Deansgate will be closed for Ironkids from 6am to 1pm and from 9am to 12 midnight for Ironman.

Due to the cycling route, some roads in Westhoughton close from 6am to 9.30am including Platt Lane from North Road to Park Road.

From 6am to 5.30pm, Chorley New Road will be shut between its junctions at Beaumont Road and De Havilland Way to allow competitors to pass through safely.

Chorley New Road will be closed from 10.30am to 12 midnight from Beaumont Road to St George's Road and Chorley Old Road for the marathon section of the race.

There is no vehicle access to Pennington Flash although spectators can leave their motors in the Morrisons supermarket car park at Leigh Sports Village.

Parking in Car Park C at the Macron Stadium will be free tomorrow and in the town centre visitors can park at no cost in the Octagon, Topp Way and Deane Road NCP multi-storey car parks.

Free shuttle buses will run between Macron Stadium and Leigh Sports Village for the swim start between 3.20am and 5.30am although it is for athletes only before 5am.

There is a shuttle bus to ferry people between the Macron Stadium and Victoria Square in Bolton town centre between 3pm and midnight.

Spectators can accompany finished competitors back to the Macron Stadium although at peak times athletes will have priority on this service.

The recommended vantage points for watching and cheering on the athletes are, for the cycling stage, Rivington Green – which the riders will pass twice – and Sheep House Lane while Ironman have designated Aspinall Way in Middlebrook as a 'hotspot'.

Those wishing to keep an eye on the runners can join the crowds lining virtually the length of Chorley New Road between Middlebrook and Bolton town centre while the Ironman organisers' 'hotspot' is on the north side of Queens Park.

Business are expecting to benefit from the influx of visitors to Bolton.

Nick Astley, owner of Metro Cars taxi firm, said: "There's a quite a few extra bookings.

"We have a pick up in business but the road closures will make it awkward for us.

"As a whole it's fantastic, bringing a good event to Bolton.

"It's chaotic with the traffic but that's the flip side."