The world-famous Glastonbury Festival returns next week – and Somerset County Council will again be working closely with organisers to help keep hundreds of thousands of music fans moving.

The Glastonbury Festival is one of the world's biggest music events, with more than 200,000 people heading to Worthy Farm near Pilton.

Somerset County Council has staff working at the festival control room and will be keeping people updated on the latest travel conditions all week via @TravelSomerset on Twitter and at www.travelsomerset.co.uk.

Roads will be far busier than usual, and it takes time to get everyone onto the site; so, anyone travelling in the area is advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "It's fantastic to have such a prestigious event on our doorstep and we're very proud to work alongside the festival throughout the year in preparation.

"During the event we will be keeping a close eye on the roads and will do our best to keep people up to date. But please do plan ahead if you need to travel – make sure you and your vehicle are prepared and allow extra time to get around."

During Glastonbury, the Council works closely with the event organisers and police to manage traffic with several temporary measures in place to keep vehicles moving. There is also an embargo on roadworks on all main routes meaning non-emergency works are suspended and roads are kept clear.

Travel advice from Somerset Road Safety

Pack your vehicle safely; heavy items packed low, loose items stowed securely, luggage not piled higher than the seat backs or blocking the seatbelts. Remember that your car will handle differently when fully laden, and your braking distances will increase.

Plan your journey. Don't leave it until the last minute; check the route, live travel information at co.uk and programme your sat-nav before setting off. Remember, your sat-nav will not get you all the way to the right place within the festival site so please follow the signs and directions of marshals as soon as you see them.

Always follow the advice and information given by police officers and security staff on the ground. You might be directed in what seems like the wrong direction, but there is a detailed traffic plan in place to help keep people moving.

Carry plenty of water and snacks and be prepared for a significant increase in journey times.

If your trip is going to be a long one plan plenty of rest breaks into your journey; we recommend a 20-minute break for every two hours driving.

Planning your journey home is just as important. When leaving the festival, you are highly likely to be directed in a different direction to that which you initially came from. There will be several closures in place to help traffic leaving the site. Please do not U turn close to the site as experience has shown that those using the signed routes get home far quicker by travelling a few miles extra.

Get some sleep: You're likely to be fatigued after several late nights and tired drivers make mistakes, so get some rest before starting your journey and remember to take rest breaks during the trip home.

Drink/drugs: There are severe penalties for those caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and many don't realise just how long they can remain over the legal limit. If you're the one driving home, remember that you need to be sober and free of drugs. Don't put your life or the lives of others at risk.

Remember to do a FLOWERS check, ahead of going to Glastonbury and also before returning home:

F (Fuel): Make sure you have enough for your journey

L (Lights): Clean all the lights and ensure they are working properly

O (Oil): Check the oil level and top up if needed

W (Water): Check the coolant level and top up the windscreen washer fluid

E (Electrics): Make sure your battery is in good working order

R (Rubber): Check tyre pressure and tread depths

S (Self): Ask yourself: 'Am I fit to drive?' If you are sharing the driving, is everyone insured?

More road safety advice can be found on the Somerset Road Safety website at www.somersetroadsafety.org, or you can follow the team on Facebook www.facebook.com/somersetroadsafety, @SCC_RoadSafety on Twitter and @somersetroadsafety on Instagram.

Stay up to date with the latest on the roads by following @TravelSomerset on Twitter or check www.travelsomerset.co.uk.