OLYMPIC-weary residents are upset about parking restrictions planned for a Castle Point mountain biking event.

Roads are set to be closed, street parking is to be banned and one-way streets will be redirected on the day of the Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International, which is being staged as a test run for next summer’s Olympic Games.

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is expecting 4,000 people to attend the event, which takes place on Sunday.

To ensure people do not drive to the event, a no-parking “red zone” has been created across the town centre.

Drivers who flout the parking restriction will be fined £70 and could have their vehicle towed away.

Residents living in streets covered by the red zone have been issued with parking permits that must be displayed in their vehicles on the day of the event.

Essex County Council has advised residents living in Chapel Lane, Castle Lane, Seaview Terrace, Park Chase, Mount Zion and the side roads accessed by them not to use their cars between 8am and 6.30pm.

Castle Lane will be closed from 6pm on Saturday, until the end of the event and residents will not be able to park their cars on the road.

Andrea Gabriel, of Chapel Lane, believes the restrictions are too much for such a small event.

She added: “It’s incredibly heavy-handed. It’s like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut. What on earth are they expecting to happen?

“We moved to Castle Lane because it’s one road to a tiny farm and it has now turned into the centre of the world.”

Bob Gosling, 49, of Beech Road, believes a letter issued by Essex County Council to explain the parking restrictions has confused matters.

He said: “It recommends that ‘wherever possible’ we avoid using our vehicles. What does that mean? Either the road is closed or it’s not.’ “It’s pretty farcical to be honest. If it’s so complicated this time, what’s it going to be like when the Olympics take place?”

Residents seeking advice on how road closures and parking restrictions will affect them are urged to attend a drop-in session at Hadleigh Old Fire Station, in High Street, on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm.