Police will be clamping down on drunken parade float drivers endangering pedestrians during tomorrow's Heritage Day celebrations.

The Royal Gazette understands some truck drivers have been spotted taking crafty swigs of beer while driving amongst majorettes and marchers.

Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said: "During past Heritage Day activities some members of the public have been observed to be openly consuming alcohol in public.

"Of further concern is the fact that some operators of heavy equipment have also been observed openly consuming alcohol.

"This type of behaviour is an offence, contrary to the Summary Offences Act, but is also a potential danger in the making.

"We do not wish to have this holiday marred by any sort of accident and we are therefore asking all members of the public to abstain from consuming alcohol either in public or while operating any sort of motor vehicle.'' More than 20 floats are expected for the main parade which will snake its way through the streets of Hamilton. Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt warned spectators not to start roping off sections of pavement for their own use. He said: "It's a blatant obstruction. People can't reserve pieces of the street days before the activities.'' He said spectators would be allowed to bring their own chairs after midnight on the day of the race, but he said anyone camping in front of ferry terminal entrances would be moved on. Runners will be sweating it out on the streets from Somerset into the city. Police asked participants to be in the west end in good time before the 9.30 a.m. start because Somerset Road will be closed to traffic from Cambridge Road to West Side Road between 8.35 a.m. and 9.45 a.m.

Burnt House Hill, Harbour Road, The Lane and Stowe Hill will be closed to all other traffic at 9 a.m. although leniency will be given to residents.

Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race At 9 a.m. around 50 cyclists will race from just south of Gilbert Lane on Somerset Road, Somerset to arrive in Cedar Avenue, Hamilton within about half an hour. A group of in-line skaters will start a race from Hog Bay Level at 9.25 a.m. and should arrive on Cedar Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. Parents have been warned to keep an eye on children because the cyclists and skaters will be travelling at high speed.

`Don't tipple during the parade -- Police warn thirsty float drivers Marathon Derby The road race will start at the junction of Cambridge Road and Somerset Road, Sandys at 9.30 a.m., with runners expected to arrive in Hamilton about 10.50 a.m. The Junior Classic Run will start from the Cenotaph on Front Street at 9.35 a.m. with runners expected to arrive in Bernard Park at 9.50 a.m.

Heritage Day Parade Floats will congregate in Hamilton from 8 a.m. and will be judged by 11 a.m.

At 12.15 p.m. a mini-opening parade will leave the Transport Control Department and travel west along North Street, turn right into Dutton Avenue into Bernard Park via the South Gate. Bands and approximately 1,000 children will participate. Ceremonies will last approximately 30 minutes. At 2 p.m. the main parade including majorettes, gombeys, floats, roller skaters will start the parade on the Church Street /Par-la-Ville Road with more than 1,000 people expected to take part. (For a route see map).

And during the morning leading up to the parade, Community activist Charles Spanswick, MP Dale Butler, the Corporation of Hamilton, Keep Bermuda Beautiful and about 15 volunteers from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bermuda will be out in the city centre streets handing out trash bags to spectators.

They are asking everyone enjoying the festivities to ensure they place their garbage in the bags provided, ready for the trash collectors to pick them up throughout the day.

Road Closures Somerset Road between the junctions of Cambridge Road and West Side Road between 8.35 a.m. and 9.45 a.m..

Westbound traffic travelling between Wreck Road and the Railway Trail over Somerset Bridge will be stopped to allow safe passage for Sinclair Packwood Memorial Cycle Racers.

Burnt House Hill, Harbour Road and The Lane will be closed between Middle Road in Warwick and North Roundabout in Paget between 9 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Stowe Hill between South Road (Rural Hill) and The Lane will also be closed while The Lane is closed.

Dutton Avenue will be closed between Marsh Folly Road and North Street between 8 a.m. and noon.

Canal Road will be closed between Marsh Folly Road and Woodlands Road from 8 a.m., until the parade floats have left the Bull's Head Car Park area.

Residents of Laffan Street and Canal Road will be allowed access to their premises.

Woodlands Road and Par-la-Ville Road from Serpentine Road to Church Street will be closed to all traffic from 8 a.m. to allow the floats and the rest of the parade to form up facing south.

Canal Road will also be closed from Marsh Folly Road to Woodlands Road from 8 a.m. to allow additional floats in the parade to form up. Residents of the Canal Road and Laffan Street will be permitted access to their premises.

Dutton Avenue from Marsh Folly Road to North Street will be closed from 8 a.m.

North Street between the junction of Court Street and Ewing Street will be closed from 12.10 for the duration of the mini-parade.

No Parking All westbound traffic entering the City of Hamilton along Crow Lane, Middle Road, Cavendish Road, Palmetto Road and Black Watch Pass will be diverted to avoid the parade route. Also closed are: Front Street from King Street to Queen Street; Reid Street from Court Street to Queen Street; Church Street from Par-la-Ville Road to King Street; King Street from Front Street to Victoria Street; Par-la-Ville Road from Church Street to Serpentine Road; Court Street from Front Street to Church Street; Queen Street from Front Street to Church Street; Cedar Avenue from Church Street to Victoria Street; North Street from Ewing Street to Two-Way Mews on Parson's Road (South side only); Langton Hill from St. John's Road to North Shore Road; Canal Road both sides at Bull's Head Car Park.

Boaters Police have advised boaters to file a float plan with Harbour Radio before venturing offshore. Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said it would help authorities locate them if anything went wrong. Marine Police will patrolling the waters to aid boaters in trouble and nab jet skiers operating too near the shore.