A week of getaway woe

Record numbers taking to the roads over Easter

MOTORISTS face a week of travel chaos as record numbers plan an Easter getaway and disruption at Dover continues.

The RAC warned of motorway gridlocks as a record 21.5million drivers prepare to take to the roads ahead of the four-day weekend.

Its research showed Good Friday is set to be the busiest, with 4.62million trips planned, followed by Easter Monday, when just under 4million drivers are expected to be out and about.

A further 7.2 million will travel on Saturday and Sunday, with another 5.6 million not yet decided on which day they will set off. More than 500 engineering works are taking place amid strikes on vast swathes of northern rail routes. It will create mayhem for the thousands of football fans travelling to London for the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

It comes as severe disruption on roads in Kent leading to cross-Channel services looks set to continue for days.

The bottlenecks have been caused by soaring numbers of drivers looking to reach the Continent for Easter getaways and the suspension of P&O Ferries services. P&O Ferries ships will not sail from Dover to Calais until at least Thursday, with rival carriers struggling to soak up the extra demand.

Europe-bound motorists have reported being stuck in traffic for six hours on Kent roads, and a 20-mile stretch of the M20 has been closed to store more than 4,000 lorries.

To make matters worse, getaways will be the most expensive on record due to sky-high fuel prices. There could also be diesel or petrol shortages due to protesting eco-warriors blocking off fuel terminals, slowing down deliveries.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘You have all the ingredients needed for problems on the roads.’

There was more misery for travellers yesterday as British Airways cancelled 82 flights and easyJet slashed 38. Cancellations are expected to continue amid staff shortages, but last week’s chaos at airports appears to have eased.