A crowd of 60,000 is expected to attend the game with kick-off at 2.30pm

The best way to travel to the event is by public transport and coach wherever possible. Those bringing their cars into the city can ease worries over congestion and parking costs by using the Council’s park and ride services.

There are two park and ride sites, one at the Cardiff City Football Club (CF11 8HU – Yellow Car Park) and one at Cardiff County Hall (CF10 4UW – Green Car Park)

Both sites can be accessed from junction 33 of the M4. Signs should be followed from the M4 as they will direct drivers to available park and ride sites at time of arrival. The service costs £6 per car.

The car parks will have a staff presence from 8.30am and will open at 9am, with the first bus leaving at 9.30am. The last bus will leave the pick-up points at 6.30pm, with the car parks closing at 7pm.

Coach parking is also available at Sophia at the dedicated coach park with driver facilities, costing £10 per coach.

There is car parking available at Sophia Close, which is within walking distance of the stadium, at a cost of £10 per car.

The following roads will be closed from 12.30 until 5.30pm:

*       Kingsway from its junction with North Rd / Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with Duke St.

*       Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate St.

*       Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted).

*       Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor St (access for residents and traders will be permitted).

The following roads will be closed in their entirety:

Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St.Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.

Runners have surged to take part in this year’s race, with thousands signing up. Places have gone 10 days ahead of when entries were scheduled to close.

In two years, runner numbers have almost doubled, making the Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon one of the fastest growing half marathons in the UK.

All of the biggest running events have a cap on the number of entrants, to ensure the safety of all those taking part. The course will be policed and marshalled throughout.

Those runners that were turned away from the event will soon be able to register for next year’s event. Registrations will open in late October. Register before December 31 and pay 2010 prices.

The annual half-marathon event will be a premium part of the Welsh running calendar as the nation prepares for the London Olympics.

Event Organiser Rachel Madge said:

“Welsh Athletics’ decision to select our event as the main championship event for runners in the four years to 2012 is a great honour for us. Gaining championship status will give the race prestige and a unique standing amongst athletes. For Wales‘s leading athletes this event is the pinnacle in the Welsh racing calendar.”

The Half Marathon being run on the morning of Sunday 17 October will mean temporary alterations to a number of bus services as described below. Additionally, many roads across the city will close to accommodate the runners.

In particular, the bay area will be seriously affected and drivers should plan their routes accordingly.

Suspended bus routes:

A number of journeys to and from West Cardiff will start and finish at the Wynford Hotel bus stop in Clare Street instead of Central Station.

BayCar Service 6

From start of service until 1152 from Hilton, 1220 from WMC operate between Central Station and Cardiff Bay via Dumballs Road, James Street, Adelaide Street and to Mermaid Quay. Return to Central Station via Bute Street.

From 1200 to 1500 buses will operate their normal route but use Bute Street in both directions not Lloyd George Avenue.

Between 0830 and Callaghan St Mary Street/Customhouse Street junction reopening, buses will not serve the rear of station and operate via full length of Bute Street and then the Friday and Saturday evening route around city centre.

Service 7

Service suspended until 1155 from Mermaid Quay and 1213 from Canal Street.

Service 8

0923 and 0953 from City Centre, 0923, 0953, 1023 and 1053 form Atlantic Wharf will not operate.

The 1053 and 1123 from the City Centre will end at Mermaid Quay and the 1123 and 1153 from Atlantic Wharf will start from Mermaid.

Service 9

0943 and 1013 from City Centre and 1017 from Sports Village will not operate.

Services 12/13

The 0900 and 0950 service 12 journeys from Ely will operate to Canton Police Station then via Leckwith Road and Ninian Park Road  and Clare Street to the end at the Wynford Hotel.

The 1018 service 12 from Central Station to start from the Wynford Hotel and operate via Neville Street, Wellington Street, and Leckwith Road to Broad Street.

The 0950 service 12 from Pengam Green to operate to Central Station only.

Services 17 & 18

These services will start from the Wynford Hotel from 0922 to 1032.

The 0822 to 0922 journeys from the City Centre to operate to Canton Police Station then via Leckwith Road, Ninian Park Road and Clare Street  to end at the Wynford Hotel.

Services 21 & 23

The 0905 journey from Central Station will enter the city centre via Colum Road, Dumfries Place, Station Terrace, Bute Terrace and lower St Mary Street

The 0935 journey from Central Station will leave the city via lower St Mary Street, Bute Terrace, Station Terrace, Dumfries Place, Park Place and Colum Road

Service 27

The 0801 journey from the city centre will enter the city centre via the Friday & Saturday evening route and end at David Street.

The 0901 journey from Kingsway will start from David Street at 0917

Services 28, 29

The 0741 service 29 journey from the City Centre wil enter the city centre via the Friday and Saturday evening route and end at David Street.

The 0829 from Dumfries Place and 0948 from Hayes Bridge Road service 29 journeys will start from David Street at 0846 and 0949.

Service 32

The 0940 journey from Central Station will start from the Wynford Hotel

Service 35

The 0915 journey from Gabalfa will enter the city centre via the Friday and Saturday evening route and end in David Street

Services 38 & 39

The 0912 journey from Bute Terrace and 0940 journey from Westgate Street to start from Churchill Way

0906 and 0936 journeys from Heath Hospital will enter the city centre via the Friday and Saturday evening route

Services 44 & 45

The 0857 journey from Dumfries Place and the 0945 journey from Bute Terrace will start from Churchill Way.

The 0830 and 0900 journeys from St Mellons will end atChurchill Way

Services 49 & 50

The 0841journey from Dumfries Place and 0939 and 0955 journeys from Bute Terrace will start from Churchill way

The 0813 journey from Llanrumney will end in Churchill Way

Service 52

The 0918 journey from Customhouse Street to start from Churchill Way

Services 57 & 58

The 0835, 0917, 0930 journeys from Dumfries Place will start from Churchill Way

The 0810, and 0848 journeys from Pontprennau will end in Churchill Way

Services 60 & 62

The 0937 journey from Danescourt will to operate to Penhill then via Canton, Leckwith Road, Ninian Park Road and Clare Street to the Wynford Hotel.

The 1005 62 from Central Station will start from the Wynford Hotel

Service 61

The 0950 and 1020 journeys from Central Station will start from the Wynford Hotel and operate via Neville Street to Canton

The 0912 and 0940 journeys from Pentrebane will to operate to Canton then via Wellington Street, Ninian Park Road and Clare Street to the Wynford Hotel

Service 92

The 0954 from Castle Avenue will continue along Penarth Road then via Clare Road to end at Cornwall Street Post Office

The 0930 and 1030 journeys from Central Station will start from Cornwall Street Post Office

Service 94

0927 from Sully will continue along Penarth Road then via Clare Road to end at Cornwall Street Post Office

The 1000 journey from Central Station will start from Cornwall Street Post Office

Services 96

The 0920 and 1020 journeys from Central Station will start from the Wynford Hotel then via Neville Street to Canton

Services X91

The 1002 journey from Central Station will start from the Wynford Hotel then via Neville Street, Wellington Street to Leckwith Road.

Six primary schools are involved in the initiative under the Assembly Government’s schools-based counselling programme. It is also the first scheme in Wales for leading UK charity The Place2Be.

Funded jointly by Cardiff Council, the Assembly Government, HBOS Foundation and Private Equity Foundation, the Place2Be scheme places qualified counsellors within a number of local schools to form a hub. Herbert Thompson, Ninian Park, Glan yr Afon, Moorland, Grangetown and Windsor Clive primaries are all involved in the Cardiff scheme.

At each site there is a dedicated ‘Place2Be room’ and a specialist on-site team, consisting of a School Project Manager (a fully qualified counsellor or therapist with experience of working with children) and up to six trained counsellors who volunteer their time. Each team is based on site in the school between two-and-a-half and three days a week and offers a range of immediate and accessible interventions to the children.

Parents and carers are also supported with advice, consultation and, where appropriate, an introduction to other agencies that can provide further support. A range of services are also offered to teachers and school staff to support their complex, demanding roles within the school community.

In addition to the school based work, multi-agency workers such as school nurses, education psychologists and education welfare officers are linked closely to the service. This helps to ensure a joined up package of care and onward referrals to specialist agencies.

Executive Member for Schools and Lifelong Learning Councillor Freda Salway said: “This scheme is a proven, supportive way to give the many children who need it the helping hand to improve their lives, both in the short and long terms. The schools have worked for some time to secure this aid and I know the skills of the various agencies and individuals involved will be of huge benefit.”

Cardiff Place2Be Project Manager Linda Nicklin said: “The Place2Be scheme is committed to supporting troubled, unhappy children in schools. Ten percent of five to 15 year olds have a diagnosed mental health problem, 80 percent of children who show behavioural problems at the age of five go on to develop more anti-social behaviour and over 90 percent of young offenders have had a mental health problem as children. What we are aiming to do is help young children at a very early age to stop such problems later in life.”