Easter travel chaos as 27.6 MILLION drivers hit the roads and flights are grounded
Easter travel CHAOS: M4 closed after fireworks factory EXPLODES, accident on M25 sparks seven mile tailbacks and British Airways and easyJet cancel 100 flights
Easter bank holiday travellers have been hit by chaos on Britain’s roads this weekSeven-mile tailbacks have been reported at the Dartford Crossing this afternoonThe AA predicts 27.6million journeys will be made over a busy Easter weekendMeanwhile hundreds of flights have been cancelled by BA and Easyjet over staff shortages
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Easter holiday travellers were left stranded at airports and on motorways across the UK today as millions attempted to make getaways for the bank holiday weekend.
There were long tailbacks across the network with the M4 closed in both directions following an explosion at an industrial building ‘involving possibly pyrotechnics and fireworks’.
Passengers were also hit by delays at airports amid ongoing staff shortages, there was chaos caused by accidents on the M25 and parts of London came to a standstill thanks to Extinction Rebellion protesters.
An overturned lorry also caused delays of up to 40 minutes on part of the M6 earlier on Saturday, according to AA President Edmund King. He said the M25 has also been ‘incredibly slow on both the west side around Heathrow and east side near Dartford’.
The AA predicted a total of 27.6 million journeys will be made over a busier than usual as people enjoy the good weather and embark on staycations for the first Easter weekend without Covid-19 restrictions since 2019.
Engineering works and strikes on railway lines meant more people were using the roads, while delays and cancellations continued to blight airlines and ferries.
British Airways is reported to have stopped loading luggage on some flights and is leaving dozens of planes uncleaned as it struggles to cope with the overwhelming Easter weekend demand.
It follows hundreds of cancellations in recent weeks due to staff shortages, leaving tens of thousands of Brits stranded at airports across the UK.
Large traffic jams were also present on the M20 in Dover due to as P&O Dover-Calais services remained suspended, with some travellers complaining they missed their ferries after waiting for hours.
The M4 motorway in Newbury has been closed in both directions after a large building containing fireworks and pyrotechnics exploded at lunchtime today
Motorists faced significant delays after the road was closed with the fire brigade dealt with the matter
Families hoping to get away on a second day of glorious sunshine were met with long queues after a crash in Surrey and a separate ‘police incident’ at the Dartford Crossing brought traffic to a standstill
Images showed huge lines of cars stretching back for miles.
DFDS advised customers on Friday morning to arrive at least two hours before their departure time, adding it is ‘expecting a busy day through the Port of Dover’.
Ashley Griffiths-Beamon, 33, and his husband Damian Griffiths-Beamon, 36, who got married on Thursday and were due to travel to Belgium to celebrate their honeymoon, were left waiting for 180 minutes and missed their ferry.
Amanda Burton, 33, from Peterborough, told PA she arrived in Dover at 4am on Friday morning, but missed her 8am ferry.
The incident on the M4 took place at 1.41pm between Junction 13-14 in Westbrook, Newbury. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said they believe there are possible pyrotechnics and fireworks on the scene.
Emergency services have put a large cordon around the area, while National Highways has closed the M4 after debris was showered across both sides of the carriageway.
Fire officers asked the public to avoid the scene while they deal with the incident.
According to National Highways: ‘The M4 is closed in both directions between J13 – J14 due to a large building fire near the M4 causing debris to land in the carriageway.
‘Thames Valley Police are leading the operation and Berkshire Fire and Rescue are working to control the fire.
‘If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.
Families hoping for a UK get away on the second day of glorious sunshine were met with long queues after a crash in Surrey and a separate ‘police incident’ at the Dartford Crossing brought traffic to a standstill.
A statement said: ‘We are currently on the scene of an incident on the #Dartford River Crossing.
‘We were called to concerns for the welfare of a woman in the area shortly after 10am this morning, Saturday 16 April.
‘The crossing has been closed whist the incident is being dealt with. National Highways will be facilitating a diversion through one of the tunnels.
‘We will provide an update on the situation as soon as we practically can.’
Motorists have faced a chaotic start to the Easter break, although traffic today is not believed to be as congested as the Good Friday getaway, according to the AA.
Motorists have faced a chaotic start to the Easter break, although traffic today is not believed to be as congested as the Good Friday getaway, according to the AA
Essex Police were urging people to avoid the Dartford Crossing after being called to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge earlier today for a ‘police incident’
In Manchester, emergency services were called to a smash involving two cars in Regent Road, Salford, at about 8am today
Firefighters rescued two people who were trapped inside one of the vehicles. The road was taped off between Ordsall Lane and Trinity Way following the crash.
Pictures from the scene showed two badly damaged vehicles inside the cordoned off area. Four people have been taken to hospital, police said. GMP say no arrests have been made but as of 4.30pm, the inbound carriageway remains shut.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: ‘At around 8am this morning (Saturday 16 April) we were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving two cars on Regent Road, Salford.
‘Two fire engines from Salford and the Technical Response Unit from Leigh were mobilised to the incident, where firefighters used cutting gear and other specialist equipment to rescue two people from a vehicle and convey them into the care of colleagues from North West Ambulance Service.
‘Two other people had self-rescued prior to crews’ arrival. ‘Firefighters made the area safe before departing after around an hour and a half at the scene.’
Four people were taken to hospital and a major road into Manchester was shut following a two-car crash this morning
Emergency services were called to the smash involving two cars in Regent Road, Salford, at about 8am today. Firefighters rescued two people who were trapped inside one of the vehicles
The motoring organisation has predicted a total of 27.6 million journeys will be made over a busier than usual Easter weekend as people enjoy the good weather, embark on staycations and avoid train travel due to engineering works.
A crash caused delays of up to 40 minutes on part of the M6 earlier on Saturday, according to AA President Edmund King.
He added that routes to the South West were not as busy as Good Friday, but there have been some delays on the M4 and M5 near Bristol.
He said: ‘Today traffic has been busy but less congested than Good Friday.
‘I have driven 176 miles in three and a half hours from Hertfordshire to Old Trafford and charged the car on the way.
‘Overall, the picture is busy but generally the traffic is flowing.’
The RAC has suggested the best time to travel on major roads is after 3pm on both Easter Saturday and Sunday, and then either before 10.30am on Easter Monday or after 6.30pm to avoid major queues.
National Highway alerted people to a ‘police incident’ at the QEII bridge earlier today
Staff shortages brought chaos to Manchester, Birmingham and Heathrow airports amid soaring demand for Easter getaways, with airlines cancelling hundreds of flights.
A total of 1,236 flights in the UK were cancelled by airlines between March 28 and April 12, according to data company Cirium – a 428 per cent increase on the same period in 2019.
The chaos came as temperatures hit 20.2C in Northolt, west London by 1pm, with the mercury expected to hit 23C in the late afternoon, making it the hottest day of the year so far.
The current highest temperature is 20.8C which was recorded in two places, St James Park in London on March 23 and Treknow in Cornwall on March 25.
Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘Hot weather, lack of trains and an increase in UK staycations means that the roads will be busier than usual this Easter with 27.6m journeys.
‘Jams are already present on the M20 due to Operation Stack and the M25 is suffering heavy congestion on the west side around Heathrow and the east near Dartford.
‘Holiday traffic to the SW has led to jams on the M4 and M5 near Bristol.
‘The backbone of Britain via the M1 and M6 is also suffering from heavy traffic and crashes with hotspots near Hemel Hempstead, Sandbach and Bamber Bridge.
‘Drivers are advised to check their cars before travelling and in particular tyre pressures, oil, windscreen washer and fuel levels, as well as preparing for themselves with water and snacks.
‘Give yourselves extra time for the journey and build regular stops at least every two hours or so into your trip.’
There have also been some reports of fuel shortages, although the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent forecourts, said it was not aware of widespread problems.
Gordon Balmer, PRA executive director, said: ‘We are aware of protests at several fuel supply sites; however, the majority are unaffected.
‘Fuel suppliers are working hard to ensure fuels are being delivered as quickly as possible and our members are working closely with them and following their advice.’
One female driver in London said: ‘(I) haven’t been able to (fill up) as of yet, still trying to find some in East London, Newham.
‘Tried About five different stations, I’ve managed to get some now at a Texaco petrol station but only two pumps were working.’
