Traffic and extremely busy trains expected ahead of bank holiday weekend

Travellers across the UK have been warned of traffic and extremely busy trains on Friday as millions set off on journeys ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

There will be significant disruption on the Cross Country train network over the next three days due to a strike by the RMT union over pay, safety and staffing.

Passengers travelling on the network, that runs services from Aberdeen to Cornwall, are being urged to travel on Friday.

Separately, the RAC has warned roads will be busy all of Friday with three million getaway journeys planned, and particularly heavy traffic on the M5 between Bristol and Devon.

Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Network Rail has advised all passengers to check their journeys before travelling due to the strikes and rail works.

There will be no CrossCountry services on Saturday, meaning there will be no direct trains connecting Birmingham to Leicester, Derby or Nottingham.

On Sunday, although industrial action is not taking place, alterations and cancellations are to be expected.

While on Monday, there will be a strike but with a limited services on all Cross Country lines between 08:00 BST and 18:00.

Trains between Birmingham, Reading and the South Coast will not run, as well as services between Leicester, Cambridge and Stansted airport.

There will only be a very limited service to the south west and north of York.

Meanwhile on the East Coast Main Line, LNER will have no direct trains to London Kings Cross on Sunday - with engineering projects taking place on other routes too.

On Saturday, western England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland will see sunny spells in the afternoon but also a chance of showers. Scotland will also have some sunny spells.

Sunday will be mainly dry with spells of sunshine and a few areas of cloud, along with the chance of a light shower in the north.

Central and Southern England will be warmest spots on Saturday and Sunday with temperatures predicted to be between 23 and 25C.

Bank Holiday Monday will be a largely dry and warm day with lots of sunshine. Rain will move into Northern Ireland in the evening.