Travel strikes – live: Border Force staff walk out as severe road warning issued for Christmas getaways
A severe traffic warning has been issued to drivers, Border Force officials are on strike and a union has warned of a “huge escalation” in walkouts next year as millions embark on Christmas getaway journeys.
The RAC, which expects 7.9 million leisure journeys to be made across the UK on Friday and Christmas Eve combined, published the alert for a stretch of the M25.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We’re expecting to see lengthy delays on parts of the M25 today as Christmas getaway and end-of-the-week commuter traffic combine.
“We advise drivers, if possible, to avoid these roads around this time or delay their trips until after 7pm this evening when traffic is predicted to be lighter.”
More than a quarter of a million passengers arriving on thousands of flights to the UK today have been warned of delays due to strikes by Border Force staff.
The walkout will affect travellers at Heathrow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester airports, and the port of Newhaven in East Sussex.
Striking Border Force staff will be joined by employees at the National Highways, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Royal Mail.
