Travel news - as it happened: Motorway chaos and flight delays on busiest day of the year

This weekend expecting to be one of the busiest of the year for travel

Motorways were gridlocked and holidaymakers faced delays at airports during Britain's busiest day for travel of the year.

The start of the school holidays in England and Wales on Friday saw millions of extra journeys made by car across the country on what the RAC has described as “Frantic Friday”.

Major routes to holiday popular holiday destinations in the south west, including Devon and Cornwall, saw average delays to travel times of well over an hour.

Several routes through Somerset, including the M5 motorway, as well as the M3 in southern England, were snarled up as millions attempt to make their way to the coast.

Meanwhile, the UK’s airports saw high numbers of passengers jetting off for summer breaks abroad.

Around 2.5 million British holidaymakers will head overseas this weekend, with Spain the most popular destination, according to trade body ABTA.

More than half a million will depart from Heathrow alone, while a further 250,000 fly from Gatwick, 148,000 from Stansted and 88,000 from Luton. Outside of London, there will be 160,000 people flying from Manchester and 67,500 from Birmingham.

At least 24 flights were cancelled due to strike action by Ryanair pilots, grounding services between London and Dublin over a dispute involving annual leave arrangements.

Follow the latest Frantic Friday travel news live here:

Key Points

• Gridlock feared as RAC predicts 3.8 million extra car journeys  at start of school summer break
• M5 one of worst-affected major routes, with long tailbacks already forming in south west England
• Ryanair cancels 24 flights between London and Dublin as pilots stage latest strike
• Major delays at Gatwick after plane makes emergency landing at UK's busiest holiday airport

[20 July 2018 08:13 · Jon di Paolo]

Welcome to The Independent's live updates on everything traffic and travel related on what is expected to be one the UK's busiest days of the year for journeys by road, rail and air.

[20 July 2018 08:14 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 08:29 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 08:43 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 09:10 · Jon di Paolo]

The RAC has compiled a list of major roads across the UK it believes will see heavy congestion today. Here are the top five and the additional time expected to be added to journeys. Delays could be longer if breakdowns or accidents take place on these routes:

• M40 southbound: Junction 3A (Birmingham) to Junction 1A (Watford) – 1hr 30min delay
• M5 southbound: Junction 12 (Gloucester) to Junction 31 (Bodmin) – 1hr 17min delay
• M5 northbound: Junction 31 (Bodmin) to Junction 12 (Gloucester) – 1hr 9min delay
• A303 westbound: Junction: M3 (Basingstoke) to A37 (Bristol) – 52min delay
• M4 westbound: Junction 18 (Bath) to Junction 23 (Chepstow) – 46min delay

[20 July 2018 09:11 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 09:47 · Jon di Paolo]

If you have been affected by today's Ryanair pilot strike, our travel correspondent Simon Calder explains what your rights are when it comes to cancelled flights:

[20 July 2018 10:14 · Jon di Paolo]

When is the best time to travel?

Not only has the RAC forecast which roads will see the longest delays this weekend, it has also predicted the best and worst times to travel.

The advice seems to suggest you’re better to leave it late on Friday evening to get your journey underway, or beat the traffic by getting up early over the weekend:

Friday

Best time: 7pm to 9pm

Worst time: 2pm to 5.30pm

 

Saturday

Best time: 7am to 9am

Worst time: 11.30am to 1pm

 

Sunday

Best time: 7am to 9am

Worst time: 12pm to 1pm

[20 July 2018 10:39 · Jon di Paolo]

A few thunderstorms are set to hit the UK today as a belt of rain sweeps across the country. 

The Met Office says the worst of the weather could hit the south east later this evening, which could cause difficult conditions for anyone heading off on holiday after work:

[20 July 2018 11:17 · Jon di Paolo]

Around 2.5 million British holidaymakers will head overseas this weekend, with Spain the most popular destination, according to trade body ABTA.

More than half a million will depart from Heathrow alone, while a further 250,000 fly from Gatwick, 148,000 from Stansted and 88,000 from Luton.

Outside of London, there will be 160,000 people flying from Manchester and 67,500 from Birmingham.

Although Scottish schools are well into their summer break, 200,000 will still be leaving from the country’s airports this weekend, more than half of which will be flying from Glasgow.