VIP lanes will speed athletes to Games venues

Olympic bid bosses are planning to establish a network of dedicated VIP lanes to speed athletes and officials across the capital.

More than 55,000 Olympic athletes and VIPs will be permitted to go through traffic hotspots from central London to the various venues.

And cameras similar to those used to enforce the congestion charge will be deployed along the route to catch any unauthorised drivers.

Up to 2,000 minibuses and limousines will be equipped with the "green wave" technology, which is currently used by police, fire and ambulance crews to alter the traffic lights as they approach.

The routes have been pencilled in to run across the centre of the city from Hyde Park, via Embankment to the Olympic village and stadium around Stratford.

The planned move is expected to enable the chosen few to arrive in just 30 minutes - half the time

currently takes for the capital's commuters to make the same journey.

Several VIP routes, which will occupy the outside lane and may be painted a different colour to distinguish it from others, will also head towards other venues chosen to host the Games, including Wembley, Wimbledon and Lord's.

In a move that could spark outrage among Londoners, other drivers will be herded into the remaining lanes.

The decision was taken by Olympic bid bosses in preparation of a successful bid fearing a repeat of the road chaos caused during the Atlanta Games in 1996, when events were delayed because of traffic problems.