Christmas travel - as it happened: Bristol Airport closed while road and rail passengers suffer delays on 'frantic Friday'

Holidaymakers take to the roads in their droves, prompting warnings of travel chaos

A lorry burst into flames on the M40, causing long delays (Biceser Fire Station)

Two lorry fires and a closed runway at Bristol Airport caused travel misery on what was dubbed "frantic Friday" three days before Christmas.

The RAC estimated around 11 million separate getaway trips will take place before Christmas Day, with 1.3 million motorists taking to the road.

The M6 and M40 were among the roads worst affected after two separate lorries caught fire on Friday afternoon.

Drivers on the A303, which runs past Stonehenge, were told to expect traffic — last Christmas, drivers experienced 13 hours of tailbacks.

For a run-through of the day's events, check our liveblog below.

Please allow a few moments for the liveblog to load

Meanwhile, a plane coming off the runway at Bristol Airport caused travel disruption for thousands of people embarking on the Christmas getaway.

Twenty-five people were on board the BMI flight from Frankfurt when it left the runway as it was taxiing to the terminal shortly after 11.30am on Friday.

No-one was injured and passengers were taken to the terminal building by coach.

Key Points

• 7.30pm Bristol Airport remains closed for the evening
• 5.30pm Second lorry fire causes delays on the M6
• 4.30pm Serious collision on the A47
• 1.30pm Plane comes off runway at Bristol airport
• 1pm Lorry bursts into flames on M40 near Bicester

[22 December 2017 19:47 · Tom Batchelor]

The latest from Bristol Airport is that the runway is not going to reopen until 9pm GMT at the earliest. It closed shortly after 11.30am, meaning the UK's ninth busiest airport will have been closed for most of what has been dubbed "Frantic Friday"

Here is the full note from the airport: 

After landing at Bristol Airport at 11.36 this morning an Embraer 145 inbound from Frankfurt (flight number BM1822) left the runway while taxiing.  Passengers were disembarked and returned to the terminal by coach.  None of the 25 people on board were hurt.

The recovery team are relocating the aircraft. The runway remains closed whilst the aircraft is removed before flights can resume. The runway is now unlikely to reopen until 21.00h this evening at the earliest.

All passengers are advised to contact their airline to obtain the latest flight information. 

[22 December 2017 20:17 · Tom Batchelor]

[22 December 2017 20:18 · Tom Batchelor]

Some people appear to have avoided the chaos... (see the below tweet)

[22 December 2017 20:21 · Tom Batchelor]

In other travel-related news that might cheer travellers caught in rush-hour traffic is an announcement that test flights for drone taxis are expected to begin in the UK next year.

Called Y6S, Autonomous Flight's aircraft seats two people, has a maximum speed of 70mph and will fly at an altitude of 1,500 feet.

The concept vehicle is expected to be unveiled in March 2018 with manned test flights planned in September....

That's one way to solve the Christmas travel chaos, at least

[22 December 2017 20:41 · Tom Batchelor]

The list of reasons for today's travel disruption has been long and varied, but I don't think we've had a train stopping in the wrong place...until now. 

National Rail has tweeted to say carriages at Harlow Town failed to come to a halt in the correct position, leading to delays for passengers in that part of Essex.

[22 December 2017 21:33 · Kristin Hugo]

Those hoping to fly in or out of Bristol airport this evening are seeing flights cancelled or delayed until at least 11pm after a plane left the runway while taxiing. 

The plane was arriving from Frankfurt and left the runway shortly after it landed. Nobody is believed to have been hurt in the incident, and an investigation into what happened is ongoing.

The airport said flights are not expected to begin operating again until 11pm at the earliest.

[22 December 2017 22:38 · Tom Batchelor]

Good news for train passengers in south Wales:

[22 December 2017 23:21 · Tom Batchelor]

That's it for today's travel live blog. Thanks for following and good luck with your travels over the festive season.