Motorists warned to expect huge delays this weekend as major routes including M25 face congestion

The long weekend, which also marks the start of half-term for many schools, is set to create significant congestion on major routes throughout the country.

With almost four in 10 (38 per cent) of all planned journeys taking place within the first two days of the weekend, experts have urged motorists to carefully plan their travel times to avoid the worst of the delays.

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Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, are expected to be the busiest days on the roads, with 3.4 million leisure trips planned for each day. This figure drops slightly to 2.7 million on Sunday, 25, before rising again to three million on bank holiday Monday.

An additional 5.4 million getaway journeys may take place at some point during the weekend, although drivers are unsure exactly when they'll set off.

The research suggested that most travellers will hit the road before lunchtime, creating potential gridlock during morning hours. A majority (68 per cent) of drivers plan to depart between 5am and midday, with nearly a third (30 per cent) setting off between 8am and 10am.

Traffic is expected to ease significantly later in the day, with just three per cent of motorists planning to travel between 7pm and 11pm after the evening rush hour.

But transport experts have warned that the M25 is expected to bear the brunt of the worst delays. On Friday, May 23, the M25 anticlockwise from J4 to J1 near the Dartford Crossing could see lunchtime journeys delayed by more than 45 minutes compared to normal.

Later that day, the M25 anticlockwise between Cobham services (J10) and Clacket Lane services (J6) may face queues of 35 minutes longer at 5pm during the evening rush hour.

Routes connecting the West Country to the rest of the UK are expected to be particularly congested on Saturday, May 24.

Stretches of the A30 westbound towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound to Bridgwater and the A303 westbound past Stonehenge may suffer hold-ups of up to 55 minutes more than usual.

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RAC Mobile Mechanic Aaron Bryan said: "Our research shows it really is best to leave as early or late as possible this bank holiday weekend, as the majority of motorists are planning to set off in the morning.

"Always check your vehicle's oil and coolant levels before setting off, as well as tyre pressure and tread depth. In hot temperatures, it's wise to carry lots of water, food and a toolkit, with jump leads, torch and some first aid basics.

"In the worst-case scenario of a breakdown, make sure you've got an umbrella and sunscreen to provide shade for all passengers when awaiting assistance."

The RAC has highlighted that while Devon and Cornwall remain popular destinations for summer getaways, many other major routes across the country could experience increased traffic, particularly the M25, which many drivers use to reach the coast and the southeast.

Motorists should also be aware of more delays when travelling home on Friday, May 30, when return journey times are expected to increase across the country by more than a third.