Travellers warned of delays in Bank Holiday getaway

Motorists have been warned to brace themselves for heavy traffic across the country tomorrow evening as droves of holidaymakers set off for extended breaks.

Traffic information firm INRIX said the worst hot spot would be around Manchester, while the RAC predicted traffic would build up on Friday afternoon with congestion on most major routes.

In Yorkshire, the AA highlighted three familiar routes likely to suffer – the M62 eastbound approaching the M621; the A64 eastbound from York; and the A1/A1(M) northbound through North Yorkshire.

INRIX said the second-most congested spot on Friday evening was likely to be London, with further jams heading in and out of the capital the following day because of major sports finals at both Wembley and Twickenham.

INRIX Europe general manager Hans-Hendrik Puvogel said: “With the majority of holidaymakers setting off for long weekend breaks after work this Friday, drivers should plan for it to take much longer than usual to reach their chosen destinations.”

The Highways Agency said it had suspended some roadworks in preparation for the weekend, but restrictions were still in place at 25 locations across the UK.

These included the M18 near Doncaster and two points north of Yorkshire along the A1.

Meanwhile forecasters warned the volcanic ash cloud which cleared over Britain yesterday could return tomorrow, but probably at a height which will leave planes unaffected.

Activity from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland all but ceased yesterday, and only a handful of flights in and out of the UK were disrupted.

A Met Office spokesman said: “There is a chance of some fairly dense ash at between 35,000ft and 50,000ft around midday on Friday. This is from the original eruption, which pushed a lot of ash high into the atmosphere.

“The intensity of the volcano has dropped.”