Final preparations underway for Manchester City victory parade

The final preparations are underway for Manchester City's victory parade through Manchester City Centre.

The Blues will celebrate their record-breaking league and cup double with an open-top buss parade through the city centre on Monday evening.

They were presented with the Premier League trophy after their game with Huddersfield last week, but now will show that - and their Caraboa League Cup silverware - to the fans along Deansgate and in Albert Square.

As many as 100,000 fans are expected to line the streets and turn Manchester blue to welcome Pep Guardiola and his players.

The gates to the viewing area in front of the stage, where the players will finish their tour, will open at 4pm.

The viewing area is non-ticketed and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The bus parade will set off at 6pm and will finish around 45 minutes later.

The players will be presented on stage at 7pm with the event then due to finish at 8pm.

The parade will start outside Cathedral Gardens, making its way towards Albert Square before moving down Peter Street and finishing on Deansgate.

Road closures have been in place since Sunday morning, with Deansgate set to remain shut for the rest of the week, until the end of the Great City Games and the Greater Manchester Run.

TfGM are advising people to check before they travel. Bus services into and out of the city will be diverted from 3.00pm until roads reopen.

Metrolink services between East Didsbury and Rochdale Town Centre will be diverted via Market Street and Shudehill from 5.30pm until the end of service, with no services at Exchange Square during this time.

Both rail and tram services are likewise expected to be busier than usual.

Cllr Pat Karney, the City Centre Spokesperson and devoted City Fan, said:

"There's no doubt we are one of the world's football capitals and we all should take pride in that, but as a City fan I can't wait for all of this. It's going to be great. We can show the world, when we see the trophies, that we can jump up and down and say 'Look at us, aren't we wonderful'.

"We're used to these big, big events in Manchester and it shows what a special place this is. You wait for these moments in your life, there's been a resurgence in City. My dad's not alive anymore but he used to take me to Maine Road all the time. All those fans who've stuck with them over the years should be so proud of supporting them over the years - their moment has come.

"Nobody should be envious of that, we've got such wonderful football clubs in our city. I will be screaming and shouting anything, just cheering on Pep and the players."