Bank Holiday drivers hit road

With the arrival of the warmest day of the year, and amid one of the worst droughts for 200 years, the AA expects 5 million drivers to drag their partners and children on a short break this weekend.

Warning of the dangers of rushing to beat the traffic jams, the motoring organisation said that the day before a bank holiday weekend is always one of the worst in the year for crashes, breakdowns and accidents. Meteorologists said holidaymakers could be disappointed in any case, with the weather set to be "pretty dreadful" from late Sunday. And those seeking escape by road to the Continent may have problems getting home on Monday, designated a "day of action" by French lorry drivers.