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Road delays hit holiday getaway Road delays hit holiday getaway
(about 4 hours later)
Motorists setting off on breaks over the bank holiday weekend are suffering congestion and delays following a series of accidents on major roads. Motorists setting off on breaks over the bank holiday weekend have suffered congestion and delays following a series of incidents on major roads.
The M5 near Bristol has 20-mile tailbacks, while the M25 in Surrey and the M58 in Lancashire have been hit. The M5 near Bristol had 20-mile tailbacks, while the M25 in Surrey and the M58 in Lancashire were also hit.
Rail users also face delays caused by engineering work, with the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland bearing the brunt of the disruption.Rail users also face delays caused by engineering work, with the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland bearing the brunt of the disruption.
A mix of sunshine, showers and windy conditions are forecast until Sunday.A mix of sunshine, showers and windy conditions are forecast until Sunday.
Latest travel news on UK roadsLatest travel news on UK roads
Drivers on the M5 near Bristol are facing major delays mid-afternoon after northbound lanes were closed between junctions 18a and 19 due to a police concerns over the safety of a man on the Avon Bridge. Many drivers on the M5 near Bristol were stuck in their cars for more than five hours after lanes were closed between junctions 18a and 19 after an apparent suicide attempt from the Avon Bridge.
An accident on the anticlockwise M25 in Surrey, between J6 and J5 caused queues of up to six miles, affecting people bound for Gatwick. Two lanes have now been opened on the northbound carriageway and traffic is starting to move.
An accident on the anti-clockwise M25 in Surrey, between J6 and J5, caused queues of up to six miles, affecting people bound for Gatwick.
Another serious accident led to the closure of a westbound section of the M58 near Skelmersdale in Lancashire.Another serious accident led to the closure of a westbound section of the M58 near Skelmersdale in Lancashire.
Major August Bank Holiday events and traffic congestion hotspotsEnlarge ImageMajor August Bank Holiday events and traffic congestion hotspotsEnlarge Image
Two lanes of the M62 were closed in Greater Manchester, while there was also heavy traffic reported on the northern part of the M25, the A303 near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the M23 in Surrey and the M4 in Berkshire.Two lanes of the M62 were closed in Greater Manchester, while there was also heavy traffic reported on the northern part of the M25, the A303 near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the M23 in Surrey and the M4 in Berkshire.
According to the AA, congestion will be up by a third compared with a normal weekend, with 14m drivers expected to be on the roads. The AA predicted congestion would be up by a third compared with a normal weekend, with 14m drivers expected on the roads.
The numbers in England and Wales are likely to be swelled by families taking a last summer break before the schools return. There are 40 sets of roadworks around the country, but the Highways Agency has suspended 31 of its roadwork schemes.
Schools in Scotland - the only part of the UK which does not have a public holiday this weekend - have already gone back.
Traffic is also likely to be affected by around 40 sets of roadworks around the country.
The Highways Agency, which has suspended 31 of its roadwork schemes, has pinpointed music festivals as the areas most likely to suffer congestion, along with routes to coastal resorts and Channel ports.
HAVE YOUR SAYWho wants to wait hours in traffic/airport queues, change trains three times to get to your holiday or pay a premium for everything? I'm going away next weekend instead!G Bagri, London Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYWho wants to wait hours in traffic/airport queues, change trains three times to get to your holiday or pay a premium for everything? I'm going away next weekend instead!G Bagri, London Send us your comments
On the trains engineering work means buses will replace trains on more than 1,000 miles of rail routes over the weekend. On the trains, engineering work means buses will replace trains on more than 1,000 miles of rail routes over the weekend.
Many northbound services from London Euston - run by Virgins Trains and London Midland and Southern - are affected by engineering works on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Many northbound services from London Euston - run by Virgin Trains and London Midland and Southern - are affected by engineering works on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
At points over the weekend there will also be buses replacing trains in parts of Kent, central London, East Sussex, West Sussex, Lanarkshire, Lancashire, Mid Glamorgan, East Midlands and Yorkshire. However, the Association of Train Operating Companies has said 3,500 more trains were running than during the last August Bank Holiday and there were 15% fewer replacement bus services than last year.
Current engineering work between Folkestone Central and Dover Priory, due to finish on Saturday, is extending journeys by up to 50 minutes. And major engineering work on the North Cotswold Line is continuing until Monday.
But the Association of Train Operating Companies has said 3,500 more trains were running than during the last August Bank Holiday and there were 15% fewer replacement bus services than last year.
Late bookingsLate bookings
Although to date more people have been holidaying in the UK this year, travel organisation Abta said a late booking surge meant up to 1.9m Britons would be travelling abroad over the holiday weekend.Although to date more people have been holidaying in the UK this year, travel organisation Abta said a late booking surge meant up to 1.9m Britons would be travelling abroad over the holiday weekend.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are expecting to handle more than 1.5m in and outbound passengers between them.Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are expecting to handle more than 1.5m in and outbound passengers between them.
Abta chairman John McEwan said: "Obviously people have been holding on to their money until they are sure they have enough to go away with and, as a result, we have seen a surge in late bookings."Abta chairman John McEwan said: "Obviously people have been holding on to their money until they are sure they have enough to go away with and, as a result, we have seen a surge in late bookings."
Meanwhile in the UK, large music festivals are taking place in Reading and Leeds, as well as the Creamfields Festival in Merseyside.Meanwhile in the UK, large music festivals are taking place in Reading and Leeds, as well as the Creamfields Festival in Merseyside.
The AA said it had received reports of drivers getting lost on their way to the Leeds Festival, as their sat navs were sending them the wrong way.
It warned that many of the navigation systems have not been updated to take into account the renumbering of junctions on the A1 (M).
The weekend will also play host to Notting Hill Carnival in west London and two festivals on south London's Clapham Common, as well as Retrofest in Ayrshire, Wizard festival in Aberdeenshire, Greenbelt festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Solfest in Cumbria, and Shambala in Northamptonshire.
The planned Beachdown festival in East Sussex was cancelled due to financial problems.
The major congestion points for the bigger events are expected to be the M1 J48/49, the A1 and A64 for Leeds; M56 for Creamfields and the M4 into Reading.
Elsewhere, about 70,000 people are expected to use the Eurostar for trips to the continent, with a further 500,000 heading abroad by ferry or on Eurotunnel services.
Port of Dover authorities said they expected a 16% increase in holidaymakers using the port compared with this time last year, with 50,000 drivers expected.Port of Dover authorities said they expected a 16% increase in holidaymakers using the port compared with this time last year, with 50,000 drivers expected.
Ferry operators had reported a rise in the number of last-minute bookings, they said.
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