Travel news - as it happened: Motorway chaos and flight delays on busiest day of the year

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.

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