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 11:48 · Jon di Paolo]

Been affected by the Ryanair strike today? Unsure why your flight has been cancelled? Read Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder's comprehensive guide to the situation and what action you can take:

[20 July 2018 12:14 · Jon di Paolo]

Somerset is a county that is likely to see its roads flooded with extra traffic as holidaymakers descend on the southwest.

Avon and Somerset Police is asking drivers to carry out some basic checks before they set off to ensure they don't end up making the delays worse:

[20 July 2018 12:25 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 12:59 · Jon di Paolo]

Earlier we said authorities in Somerset were preparing for heavy traffic and some major routes in the county already appear to be snarling up: 

[20 July 2018 13:55 · Jon di Paolo]

[20 July 2018 14:16 · Jon di Paolo]

It now appears that traffic is really struggling on the M5 in Somerset, both north and southbound:

[20 July 2018 14:22 · Jon di Paolo]

Traffic coastbound on the M20 near Maidstone is not moving, with Kent County Council reporting this is due to a vehicle losing its load:

[20 July 2018 14:42 · Jon di Paolo]

There are now severe delays on the M25 eastbound in Essex between the junctions for the M11 and A12, where traffic is not moving following a two-vehicle crash.

One lane is closed and Highways England is reporting delays of 50 minutes, which may not ease until 5pm this evening. 

[20 July 2018 14:54 · Jon di Paolo]

ICYMI: Some flights from Gatwick were hit by delays this morning, while the airport will still face some disruption into the evening - here's why: 

[20 July 2018 15:17 · Jon di Paolo]

A lot of the major routes down to the southwest are now beginning to look very congested, including the M5, A303 and A35.

Sections of road on the map marked in yellow show where traffic is moving slower than usual, while red and black areas represent where roads are at a near or complete standstill: