Up to 60,000 visitors attending next year's show at Myerscough will be directed along the M55 to Kirkham rather than taking a direct route up the A6 from Junction 32 of the M6.

But organisers say a detour through the countryside has been chosen on the advice of police and highways officials.

The rural jaunt will see cars and coaches sent from the M6, down the M55, before being directed to the Kirkham roundabout, up to Windy Harbour.

They will then travel through small communities in Esprick, Greenhalgh, Great Eccleston and St Michael's to get to the showground.

Staining Coun Maxine Chew believes the decision will cause traffic gridlock along the already hectic A585.

She said: "I think that is an extremely foolish thing to do.

"Residents are already overloaded with traffic. It would be far better to come off at Broughton and up the A6.

"It's something I would disagree with totally. Adding traffic would make it unbearable.

"The traffic is already constantly queueing."

The Duchy of Lancaster wants to relocate the show to Myerscough for three years from next July. This year's show at a site in Samlesbury in the Ribble Valley was cancelled due to poor weather.

Kirkham Coun Liz Oades thinks the route will cause "absolute madness" on the A585, which is already seen as a traffic blackspot.

She believes it will test residents – already pushing for an extra link road to the M55 – to the limit.

Coun Oades added: "I can't understand why they would want to send them down such a busy road.

"There is already a lot of trouble going into Singleton. Residents already have total misery because of the road."

Plans to house the show at Myerscough have been submitted to Wyre Council's planning committee for approval.

A council spokesman said: "Traffic access to the site is a key element of this application.

"The Duchy has employed a consultant and they have their views on the subject."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The county council has been in discussions with Wyre Council, the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, the Duchy of Lancaster and the police regarding plans to establish a new home for the show at Myerscough.

"We think it is best, should the show go ahead at this venue, to have clearly identified routes in order for visitors to get to and from the show as quickly as possible.

"All traffic on the days of the show would be managed by the police and three possible routes for traffic to take during the show which would help manage traffic.

"The routes would take traffic down either motorways or principal A roads."

The three-day show starts on Friday July 18.