LARGE crowds are expected to gather in Burnley this weekend in celebration of the Clarets’ promotion to the Premier League.

A public celebration event will be held on Sunday, May 4, when a Civic reception at Burnley Town Hall will be followed by an open-top bus parade through the town centre to Turf Moor.

Burnley FC manager Sean Dyche and his players will appear on the balcony of the town hall at 2pm, where there will be short interviews with the stars.

This will be followed by an open-top bus parade to the club’s ground.

The route will start at the corner of Grimshaw Street/Manchester Road and follow Red Lion Street/Centenary Way/Yorkshire Street and Harry Potts Way.

The Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Frank Cant, said: “I remember five years ago when Burnley went up to the Premier League what a great day that was. I’m sure this Sunday will be even bigger. The whole town wants to celebrate the Clarets’ marvelous achievement in gaining automatic promotion.

“Burnley truly is a premier town and now we have a premier club again. Burnley is going places in so many ways and now the Clarets are back on top I’m sure we’ll be attracting many more visitors to the town who’ll be able to see how great Burnley is, not just at football but in many other ways too.”

Burnley FC joint-chairmen John Banaszkiewicz and Mike Garlick added: “We feel it is right and fitting that we celebrate the club’s success with our people. The Premier League is back in our town and back on our Turf and we look forward to another special day with the townsfolk of Burnley and our supporters from further afield.”

The town hall car park will be closed to the public all day and there will be some disruption to town centre traffic and bus services.

The following roads will be closed from 6am: Manchester Road (Finsley Gate to Grimshaw Street), Saunder Bank, Elizabeth Street, Yorke Street and Ormerod Street.

The following roads will be closed from noon: Hargreaves Street, Grimshaw Street and Parker Lane.

Centenary Way will be closed to traffic (between Red Lion Street and Yorkshire Street) from 3pm but open to pedestrians to watch the parade pass by.

All roads should be back to normal by 6pm.