Drivers have been urged to avoid travelling until after 6pm on what is expected to be busiest day on the roads for Christmas getaways.

Motorists looking to drive as an alternative to the railways face the peak of road congestion on Friday as those embarking on leisure trips compete for road space with commuters and business traffic.

The RAC has estimated 13.5 million leisure journeys by car would take place across the UK between today and Sunday, up 20 per cent on the three days before Christmas Day last year.

It comes after Christmas getaways for those travelling by rail on Thursday were thrown into chaos as a result of Storm Pia and unexpected strike action by Eurotunnel staff.

All trains going north from London Euston were cancelled for three hours and those from King’s Cross were delayed. Eurostar and Channel Tunnel services were also cancelled after a sudden strike by French workers before they later resumed.

Follow the developments below.