Millions take part in double bank holiday getaway

With the royal wedding providing an extra bank holiday just a week after the long Easter weekend, some workers will only have to take three days off to be away from work for eleven days.

The busiest period on the roads is expected to be on Friday 21st, as some of the estimated 10 million people travelling over Easter take to their cars. The AA warned that drivers face a 50 per cent increase in journey times.

The royal wedding weekend will see another estimated eight million take to the roads.

Traffic hotspots will include the A30 between Exeter and Penzance, the A39 through to Cornwall, the M6 running to the Lake District and the A34 Oxford to Winchester.

’90 per cent of the rail network will be working’

Network Rail said that over 90 per cent of the rail network will be in operation over Easter and the royal wedding. There are some planned engineering works though, the affected lines include trains coming in and out of London Liverpool Street, London Euston, Brighton and Birmingham New Street.

Around two million people are expected to head abroad over the weekend, even though temperatures are due to stay at a very unseasonal high across the UK. London should see highs of 26 degrees and conditions are likely to remain warm and sunny everywhere except the north of Scotland and the North-east.

Government issues smog alert

But holiday makers may not have clear blue skies everywhere. On Thursday the Government issued a smog alert for the weekend in England and Wales, for ozone and polluting particles known as PM10’s, which can affect people’s health.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that people should avoid exercising outdoors or making short car journeys, which can contribute to air pollution. More detailed advice for people who are concerned is available on their website.

The smog is formed by the high pressure system that brings warm weather and some people may notice an effect on their breathing.