KEY park-and-ride sites for July's Open Golf Championship have been identified following talks between golf's ruling body, the Royal and Ancient, and the local authority.

Visitors to the championship at the Royal Liverpool golf links have been advised to travel by public transport where possible, but park-and-ride facilities will be in place at Heron Road, Meols and Pump Lane, Greasby.

Traffic will be directed to Heron Road via the M53 junction two, Moreton Spur, Upton bypass, Saughall Massie Road and Saughall Massie bypass. A bus shuttle service with then take spectators to the golf course via Birkenhead Road and Market Street to a drop-off point in Stanley Road.

To reach the Pump Lane car park traffic will be directed via M53 junction three, Woodchurch Road, Arrowe Park Road and Greasby Road. The bus service will operate along Saughall Massie Road, Black Horse Hill and Grange Road, stopping at a drop-off point in Meols Drive, which will remain open during the championship.

Different routes have been chosen to distribute traffic evenly on Wirral's roads and to serve the different public entrances to the golf clinks.

In the interest of safety and to reduce congestion parking along the two park-and-ride routes to and from the course will be restricted.

A third park-and-ride site, for reserved parking, will be created off Birkenhead Road, Meols, known locally as Meols stretch. Traffic will be directed from junction one of the M53 via Bidston bypass and Hoylake Road.

Detailed arrangements to maintain a free flow of traffic and accessibility for emergency services, are being drawn up by the local authority in consultation with Merseyside Police.

On the environmental front Hoylake Station is being refurbished by Merseytravel to provide a showcase for the championship.

A temporary footbridge will be constructed over the track at Hoylake to allow car park access. Extra toilet facilities will also be provided. During the championship trains will start running at 5-30am and will operate at 10-minute intervals until 10-30am.They will then run at 15 minutes intervals until 3pm when they will return to 10-minute intervals until the station is cleared at around 9-30pm. A 15-minute service will then operate until midnight.

Train services from Hoylake to West Kirby will be suspended from Thursday morning, July 13, to allow for construction of a level crossing from Morpeth Road to the practice ground.

This is expected to take about three days to construct in readiness for the start of practice play on Sunday July 16.

A bus service will replicate the suspended rail service.

The closure of the line will allow access for players and spectators to the championship practice ground on Hoylake municipal golf course.

The railway will open to normal service on Wednesday July 26.

The Open Championship starts on July 20 and finishes on Sunday July 23