Frantic Friday alert over festive getaway

FAMILIES have been told to beware of "Frantic Friday" as 16 million cars, 1,700 roadworks and 275 rail engineering works threaten to bring the great Christmas getaway to a halt.

- Alistair Grant

As schools, factories and offices close for the festive fortnight, the RAC is predicting worse traffic than last year.

It is advising motorists to avoid travelling on Friday afternoon and early evening with an after-work rush expected to trigger a meltdown on the roads with hour-long jams expected.

The dash to join family and friends for the four-day holiday weekend will also clog major routes on Saturday.

The motoring organisation said the worst hotspots will be the M25 and M4 near Heathrow, the M4 north of Newbury, Berkshire, the M62 near Warrington, Cheshire, the M5 near Avonmouth and the M6 in Cumbria.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: "Friday's clash of getaway leisure traffic, commuters finishing work and business vehicles will make it one of the worst days on the roads over Christmas.