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Millions set for Good Friday getaway as UK set to hit 25C

Severe traffic delays are expected on some popular routes today as an estimated 4.4 million people take to Britain's roads.

Some Good Friday journeys could take three times longer than normal with the worst jams expected between 11am and 4.30pm, according to research by the RAC and traffic information supplier Inrix.

The stretches of road likely to see the worst delays over the bank holiday weekend are (RAC):

:: Good Friday

:: Saturday

:: Easter Sunday

:: Easter Monday

Highways England is removing more than 450 miles of roadworks over the long weekend, meaning 99% of motorways and major A-roads in England will be clear of cones, but "significant" traffic is still anticipated.

AA president Edmund King said Saturday will see a "congestion cocktail" of day trippers, shoppers, sun-seekers and football fans taking to the roads.

"Expect delays and allow plenty of extra time for your journey", he added.

Thursday saw a number of routes clogged up by people making an early start ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

Routes from west London to Exeter had significant delays on journeys via the M4 and M5, the AA said.

Rail passengers also face disruption as Network Rail carries out engineering work.

London Euston, the fifth busiest station in the UK, will be closed between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

There will also be no trains at London Fenchurch Street, an amended service between Preston and Glasgow Central, and some lines closed through Wimbledon.

Network Rail said fewer passenger use trains during bank holidays compared with working days but admitted there is "never an ideal time to shut the railway for our must-do work".

Meanwhile, the Met Office is predicting lots of warm, dry and sunny weather across the UK.

Temperatures are expected to widely reach the low 20s Celsius (68F) and peak at 24C (75.2F) or 25C (77F) in the South.

The record temperature for Easter Sunday in the UK is 25.3C (77.5F) in Solent, Hampshire in April 2011.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: "Temperatures will continue to rise day by day and with the sun getting stronger at this time of year, it's going to feel warm or very warm across much of the country this Easter weekend.

"With temperatures usually around 12C (53.6F) to 15C (59F) at this time of year, it's certainly going to be significantly warmer than average this Easter weekend and quite a contrast to the colder weather we've seen so far this month."

The Met Office has also forecast a high chance of pollen stretching from the South West up into Scotland on Saturday.