SUNSHINE GREETS BIG HOLIDAY GETAWAY

With temperatures expected to hit 26C (79F) over the weekend, millions of drivers are expected to take to the roads on Friday afternoon amid warnings of congestion on popular routes.

Only north and western Scotland are expected to get any rain or heavy cloud over the next few days, with temperatures set to soar in England and Wales.

"It's certainly going to be a lot better than it has been compared with the rest of the summer," said Gareth Harvey of MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association.

He went on: "In England and Wales, almost everywhere will see a lot of sunshine and temperatures will be around 22-23C (71-73F).

"We could get temperatures as high as 26C in southern England today, although western and northern Scotland could get drizzle. It will be a bit cooler on Sunday and bank holiday Monday but temperatures should be around 21-24C (70-75F)."

Although the Highways Agency has suspended roadworks at half of sites on England's motorways and main A roads, motoring organisations warned of congestion on popular routes.

The AA said 37% of people had planned a bank holiday getaway - slightly up on last August bank holiday's figure of 35%.

The organisation singled out Brighton, Bournemouth, Torquay, Newquay and Great Yarmouth as popular bank holiday destinations, plus theme parks.

It added that Friday afternoon was expected to be the busiest getaway time with the five busiest routes likely to be the M25, M1 northbound, the M4 westbound, the M6 through the West Midlands and north of Manchester and Liverpool and the M5.