POLICE have pulled out of a key task in controlling traffic for the Great Yorkshire Show, expected to attract more than 130,000 visitors during its three-day run in July at Harrogate.

Instead the operation will be managed by a private firm. But it is understood they will be unable to use traditional police methods of controlling traffic, although they could use hand-turned stop-go signs.

Changes mean Harrogate Borough and North Yorkshire County Council highway chiefs will have to play a more prominent role in the operation which has been successfully run by police in the past.

Coun Don Mackenzie, borough cabinet member for transport, has been told that, following legal advice, police officers were no longer legally allowed to stop or direct traffic for the Great Yorkshire Show or other similar events. It means fundamental changes are being made to the way the traffic would be managed for an event organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society on its permanent showground in Wetherby Road.

Until this year, police had manned key routes leading to the showground. To ease traffic problems, police officers were able to override traffic signals at busy junctions.

Show director Bill Cowling said ensuring visitors had a smooth journey to and from the showground was important to organisers. Mr Cowling said they had been working on traffic management for several months and confirmed there would be changes put in place.

"We are still in the consultation process and are finalising our plans," he said. He pointed out that they parked more than 45,000 cars over the three-day event, this year being held on July 10, 11 and 12.

Mr Cowling said their traffic plan would be robust and coherent, involving several organisations including the police.

Coun Mackenzie said he was disappointed that police would no longer take the lead in managing show traffic following advice from police chiefs.

Asked if he thought the changes would be an improvement on the police-led scheme, he said: "I don't think it will."

Latest advice from chief constables is that police are not allowed by law to stop or direct traffic for public events under a new Traffic Act. This also puts more responsibility on council highway authorities.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Traffic arrangements in relation to the Great Yorkshire Show are still under consideration."