MAJOR events are set to be disrupted by major rail strikes in the coming days, with fears that further industrial action will put travel to other major events at risk this summer.

The Glastonbury Festival, taking place this weekend for the first time in three years, will see thousands of people forced to drive to the south west of England, with train strikes crippling the mass transit network.

And Armed Forces Day, which will be marked on Saturday in Colchester, could also see reduced numbers due to the travel disruption.

The British Athletics Championships, taking place in Manchester over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will also be affected, with travel disruption expected for the rest of the week.

There are also fears that further strikes this summer will result in travel chaos to other parts of the UK.

The Network Rail trade union, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), is balloting staff later this month to gauge whether another strike will take place – if it goes ahead, the walk-out would start on Monday, July 25.

It would mean the Commonwealth Games, taking place in Birmingham from next month, could also be affected, as well as cricket test matches between England and South Africa.