AA braced for breakdown barrage

Roadside rescue companies are expecting more than 40,000 call-outs to non-starting vehicles tomorrow morning as the nation tries to get back to work.

The AA is braced to jump start 15,500 cars, more than 60 per cent up on a normal Tuesday, though fewer than the 18,000 which required assistance in last year's considerably cooler weather.

A spokesman, Keith Miller, said: "The first working day back in January is almost always the busiest day of the year for breakdowns.

"The issue is that many cars get left unused over the Christmas period, so come January, the battery is often flat."

The increased use of de-misters, heaters and windscreen wipers during the winter places an extra strain on car batteries, making non-starts the biggest cause of rescue patrol call-outs.