Snow warnings as getaway begins

The great Christmas getaway starts today ahead of warnings of blizzards and heavy snowfall.

As schools close for the holiday, the annual rush is expected to start from lunchtime. The AA has warned that some routes such as the M25 will see a 25 per cent increase in traffic over the Christmas period.

Weather forecasters expect severe disruption. Snow is likely to fall tonight on northern hills and patchy fog will make driving conditions very poor.

Blizzards are expected in northern England on Sunday night and the wintry conditions could reach as far south as East Anglia and the East Midlands.

The Met Office yesterday issued a warning urging motorists to bring forward their travel plans. A spokesman said: "There is a strong possibility of disruption."

Forecasters said temperatures may dip as low as -3C across England and Wales on Sunday night, and strong northerly winds are expected. Sleet and snow showers may continue into Monday morning and the wind chill will make it feel as though temperatures have not risen above freezing.

A record 1.8 million Britons are heading abroad over Christmas and the New Year. Eurostar is expected to take 28,000 passengers today, 20 per cent up on last year.

But for those travelling within the UK, the outlook is bleak. Unprecedented numbers trying to get out of London and the South-East will mean lengthy delays on roads. Worst hit will be the M25 and other major routes under strain include the M1 and A1, the M4 out of London, the M2, M20, M23, A23, A3 and M3.

Train services face disruption due to engineering work with Great Western, West Coast, East Coast and Sussex Coast badly affected. The Tube will see strike action on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, forecasters say a white Christmas is unlikely. Bookmaker Coral said the odds had lengthened from 4-1 to 6-1.