REDBOURN: The home of the Herts County Show is to be the site of a park and ride scheme for next year’s Olympic Games.

The showground has been chosen because of its close proximity to Junction 9 of the M1 motorway which will enable easy access to the Olympic Park in East London.

And it has also been agreed that boards advertising the attractions in Hertfordshire will greet motorists as they arrive and leaflets will be given out promoting the county.

Herts Show secretary, Mike Harman, said that the showground would operate for the 17 days of the Olympic period and it was expected that many of the motorists using it would be coming down from the South Midlands area.

He dismissed concerns raised by Lib Dems in Herts that people would be bussed from the showground to railway stations like St Albans, which would result in further congestion on the already-busy local road network.

Mr Harman stressed that the use of the showground had the full support of the Herts Chamber of Commerce because it would promote tourism in the county.

He added: “It has got to be logical with the site just 300 metres away from the M1 motorway.”