It’s the last Bank Holiday before Christmas and with hotter weather forecast it’s likely to be mad dash to top tourist populations for many in their cars.

There will be an estimated 16.5million extra vehicles on the roads over the Bank Holiday according to RAC and INRIX, with traffic expected to peak on Friday between 11am and 6.30pm. To avoid the gridlock it is being advised to wait until after 9pm.

The traffic hotspots across Bank Holiday will be the M6 North between J22 and J26 on Saturday where there is an expected 21 minute delay, expect a 55 minute delay on the M25 anticlockwise on Friday from J4 to J1, a 26 minute delay on the same motorway clockwise from J7 to J16, while the longest delay will be more than an hour with the M6 South taking the brunt of the homeward bound traffic Monday between J27 and J13.

Ben Aldous, RAC patrol of the year, said: “For many people, this coming weekend is the last chance to enjoy a long weekend this side of Christmas – and with the weather improving that’s likely to mean a lot of cars on the road heading to popular tourist destinations.

“A lot of the breakdowns we expect to see this weekend are preventable, so it’s vital drivers check over their car before setting out.

“Tyres with plenty of tread and properly inflated are far less likely to cause drivers problems, and it’s crucial that oil and coolant are at the right levels too.

“All are quick, easy things to check and can save drivers the hassle of a breakdown at the roadside.”

One bonus of travelling over the Bank Holiday is that Highways England has promised to keep roadworks to a minimum, with 97 per cent of the network free.

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