Motorists have been warned that the bank holiday getaway will add around 25 per cent to normal traffic levels from 3pm until early evening today.

Drivers should delay their journeys until after 7pm to avoid the expected surge in congestion, according to the AA.

Some main routes in and around London and the South East could experience a 50 per cent increase in regular Friday late-afternoon traffic, the motoring organisation said.

It expects 10 million motorists to take to the road at some point over the weekend - around a third of all licence holders.

Transport information company Inrix predicted that drivers will be delayed by up to 90 minutes on peak routes.

Max Holdstock of the AA said: "May bank holiday traffic tends to be more intense as families and friends decide whether to get away or make the three days off a long weekend at home.

"If people are going to go away, they need to get on with it to make it worth their while."

The RAC estimated that 20 million leisure trips will be made on Britain's roads between Friday and Monday.

It claimed a "far greater" number of cars will be on the highway this May Day weekend compared with 2015 because a number of people are making up for not going away at Easter as it was earlier than normal.

Green Flag said more than 31,000 breakdowns will take place this weekend.

Meanwhile, those hoping to avoid the queues on the road by taking the train will find that a number of lines are disrupted due to engineering work.

There will be no Gatwick Express services between the airport and London Victoria. Direct services will run to and from London Bridge instead.