MOTORISTS have been warned to expect heavy traffic over the bank holiday with around 20 million leisure trips expected to be made on Britain’s road.

Warnings have been made by the RAC that a far greater number of cars will be on the road compared to 2015 as more people did not go away at Easter due to it falling earlier this year.

Saturday is expected to see 8.4 million leisure trips by car with noon the most likely time for congestion.

This is compared to 5.4 million on Friday, 6.9 million on Sunday and 4.8 million on Monday.

The south west is set to be especially badly hit according to a survey carried out by the RAC with the M5 from Bristol to Taunton and the A30 and A38 from Exeter to Cornwall expected to be especially chaotic.

There is also predicted to be many people travelling by train.

Simon Williams of the RAC said: "The number of people who plan to use their cars for leisure trips, whether that's visiting family and friends or enjoying a day out or some time away, is far greater this year than last.

"This level of recreational car journeys is the highest we have seen in recent times. We think it can only be a hangover effect from Easter falling in late March when perhaps people didn't drive as much as they would have had it been April when the weather would have been a little warmer."