Festivals and events over the weekend are likely to cause delays

Earlier on Friday afternoon queues of more than four miles were reported on some motorways and A-roads - largely as a result of accidents.

Despite the recent wet weather, 37% of UK motorists have planned a getaway, according to the AA.

Many are heading to the beach, with seaside resorts topping the list of weekend destinations.

Particularly bad delays were reported on the M1 northbound, and on the A4 and A1.

At one point on Friday evening on the M1, traffic had come to a standstill between junctions 27 and 31.

There were also long delays on the M5 in Gloucestershire following an earlier incident where a police car was shot at and the motorway was shut in both directions between junctions 12 and 13.

More accidents

In the evening, severe delays were reported southbound on the M5 between junctions 15 to 21.

Police distributed water to motorists stuck in their cars.

The M4 westbound away from London was also experiencing very slow moving traffic as the bank holiday exodus combined with people travelling to the Reading Festival.

Heavy traffic is expected over the weekend on the M25 and the M6 through the West Midlands, north of Manchester and Liverpool.

Lane closures, as a result of the Notting Hill Carnival, may also cause delays for drivers heading out of London on the A40.

Despite the lifting of some roadworks, the Highways Agency has said a number of busy routes would still have works in place.

Many drivers are heading for the coast to take advantage of what is predicted to be a better weekend weather-wise than in recent weeks.

Temperatures are predicted to be as high as 26C (79F) in some parts of Britain on Sunday, although Scotland will be wet.

Warm weather is forecast for Berkshire and West Yorkshire where the Reading and Leeds music festivals are being held.

BANK HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS Roadworks: M1 between junctions 6a and 10 near Luton; M4 at junction 12 near Reading Predicted busiest routes: M25; M1 northbound; M4 westbound; M6 through West Midlands, north of Manchester and Liverpool; M5 Sources: AA/Highways Agency

BBC Weather Centre forecaster John Hammond said: "It's going to be the saviour of summer.

"On Saturday, it's going to warm in most of England and Wales, in London it will be 26C.

"In Scotland and Northern Ireland it will be cloudier with bits and bobs of rain, but it won't be a washout."

He said rain would come down the country, dissipating in strength, and by Sunday would have largely disappeared.

"By Monday, there'll be a lot of bright and dry weather but it will be cooling down," he said.

Chunnel 'record'

British Airways said its most popular European destinations this weekend are Paris, Nice and Rome.

The airline also expects to fly more than 20,000 passengers to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Virgin Atlantic will carry 25% more passengers over the bank holiday period than last year.

Channel Tunnel high-speed train company Eurostar is expecting to carry a record 153,000 travellers from Thursday until the end of Tuesday.