MILLIONS of shoppers are hitting the high streets on the last Saturday before Christmas, while motorways and airports are rammed with festive travellers.
It comes during the busiest shopping day of the year, with a predicted 30 million flocking to stores – as well as the “busiest festive getaway on record”, according to the RAC, with swathes of people rushing home for Christmas.
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The shopping chaos has even spread to the UK’s most iconic department store, Harrods, as staff from retail, restaurant, kitchen and cleaning departments have gone on strike.
Social media users also warned of “absolute bedlam” at train stations, airports and supermarkets.
Snaps from Manchester Airport and Stansted Airport show passengers in stationary queues as they wait for check-in – with Manchester Airport set to see 90,000 daily passengers between now and Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, weary travellers can also be seen waiting for their trains at St Pancras International and London Euston stations.
On the roads, the AA predicted a whopping 22.7 million drivers would make their festive journeys today.
This follows an estimated 23.7 yesterday – the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
And tomorrow, another 21.3 million motorists are expected to get in their cars.
The RAC also estimated seven million leisure trips will be made on major roads during the weekend, which excludes everyday traffic.
It urged Christmas getaway travellers to “be patient” on the roads and highlighted the M25, M4 and M5 as “crunch points” for delays.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We are expecting things to build up through the course of the morning … If you’re packing up now, this is a good time to travel.
“There’s a core of about 11 o’clock this morning and between about four and six this afternoon, that’s the core time where we expect the traffic to be heavier.”
When asked to outline particular problem areas, he continued: “Obviously there’s stretches of the northern part of the M25, part of the M4, the M5, a lot of routes people use for the sorts of journeys they’re going to make ahead of Christmas where they just can’t open all the lanes back up again.
“So, there’s those to bear in mind. What we’re saying to people is just be patient. These are journeys that matter to us this time of year.
“Just don’t expect to get there the minute your sat-nav says it will.
“Allow yourself a bit of time to make it easy and get there safely.”
A congestion hotspot is also expected in both directions of the M1 to Gatwick via the M25 and the M23.
Liverpool to Chester on the M53 could also be a problem area, as drivers head south.
And experts are also predicting chaos on the way from Oxford to the south coast via the A34 and the M3.
Meanwhile, drivers should likewise expect delays on the M25 to the south coast along the M3 – and at the Taunton to Almondsbury Interchange in Bristol heading down the M5.
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The transport disruption is set to be worsened by a spell of strong winds, with yellow warnings in place across large swathes of the UK, the Met Office said.
These cover the North West, the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland, before expending to London, the South East, the South West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and all of Wales and Northern Ireland tomorrow.
Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over the course of the day with 50-60mph gusts expected – with a small chance of some reaching 80mph.
The strong winds have already caused 33 flights to be axed today – and another 58 tomorrow.
And, P&O Ferries confirmed that journeys between Larne and Cairnryan have all been cancelled for at least 24 hours.
A spokesperson said: “Due to adverse weather conditions, all P&O Ferries sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled from 2000 tonight (21st December) until at least 2000 tomorrow night (22nd December).
“We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion.
“All remaining sailings for today are fully booked, customers can manage their booking online or call us on 01304 884488 to amend or cancel their booking. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Yesterday saw more travel chaos as three major motorways closed in the mad pre-Christmas rush.
The M48, M5 J27 and M4 all saw closures, sparking gridlocks.
Snaps also showed queues building up for check-in at Manchester Airport and other flight hubs as festive passengers set off home.
The airport warned that wrapped presents, crackers and snow globes are not allowed in hand luggage.
Failure to put these festive items in hold luggage could worsen delays at check-in, the airport said.
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