Weather hits big getaway

Heavy rain brought misery for drivers this afternoon on what is expected to be the busiest day of the Christmas getaway.

Warnings of hazardous driving conditions were made for the M6 and M54 following downpours across the region.

In Telford, a two-car crash on the A442 at its junction with the B5061 near Newport today was put down to the weather.

Officers also received calls of flooding on roads in Oakengates and at Waterside Mews in Newport.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: "As ever, we would urge people to drive in accordance with the conditions and to take care out on the roads."

Elsewhere, a multi-car crash on the M5 southbound near Taunton, in Somerset, was causing delays this afternoon, the Highways Agency said.

Another accident involving a number of vehicles was also causing delays on the M60 at junction five near Manchester.

It comes as millions of people were expected to take to the roads today for the big Christmas getaway. Airports and ports were also full of people travelling to spend the festive period overseas.

A spokesman for the AA said up to 18 million cars would be on the roads over the 24-hour period from last night to this evening.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said today was expected to be its busiest with 100,000 passengers travelling through.

There were also big crowds at Heathrow Airport, with today expected to see the most arrivals flying in and 35,000 scheduled to fly into Terminal 5 alone.

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