Drivers warned of bank holiday traffic chaos

The bank holiday getaway was today getting under way, with drivers warned of traffic chaos as millions head off for a long weekend away.

As many as 15 million cars will take to the roads, with the heaviest traffic due today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile another nine million passengers will travel by rail. People taking trains will have to contend with delays and cancellations on some lines because of engineering work.

Thousands of football fans heading to Wembley to see Liverpool face Chelsea in the FA Cup final tomorrow will have to contend with engineering works.

The rail industry has said that there will be 17 per cent fewer replacement bus services than there were for the 2011 May bank holiday weekend.

Travellers face outbreaks of heavy rain with almost everywhere in the country expected to see at least showers over the weekend.

The Highways Agency is not expected to lift or suspend and roadworks because it is only policy to do so when a bank holiday coincides with school holidays.

However there are no major roadworks scheduled to take place in the West Midlands over the bank holiday.

Mik Barton, spokesman for the Highways Agency, said: "This isn't one of the bank holidays where we lift roadworks.

"However we do all we can to minimise disruption including working overnight where possible."

He said the agency was expecting to see more cars than usual but added that the recent bad weather may have put people off travelling.

The agency is intending to lift roadworks for the next bank holiday, which includes the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

In the West Midlands, reduced services will run on CrossCountry and London Midland trains from Birmingham New Street, Lichfield Trent Valley, Lichfield City, Tame Bridge Parkway, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley.

West Coast engineering work will affect Liverpool fans heading for the FA Cup Final Wembley and will also hit passengers travelling on London Midland services.