A special route allowing Olympic athletes to race through London unimpeded by traffic is to be set up along Islington roads.

The Olympic Lane, which will be banned to all vehicles apart from buses, Olympic athletes and officials and the media, will run along Pentonville Road, in King’s Cross, then down City Road to Old Street Station in Finsbury.

Even ambulances will be restricted from the route if they are not on an emergency call.

When in operation, the lane will be littered with no-stop zones, suspended bus stops, closed pedestrian crossings and restrictions on parking and loading, which could spell trouble for local businesses.

Umit Sapanoglu, who runs Babosh Mini Market in Pentonville Road, said: “This will really affect us – some people only stop outside the shop so they can pop in to get a few things.

“It will make it very hard for our deliveries, and many of our staff drive in from a long way away.

“Where are they going to park?

“We could really do without this to be honest.”

The Olympic Lane will be in operation on July 28 and 29 and August 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12.

A drop-in session for concerned residents and businesses is set to be held at City and Islington Sixth Form college in Gowell Road, Finsbury, on April 18.