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FRANTIC FRIDAY

Traffic jams, cancelled trains and airport delays caused travel chaos on Frantic Friday

An extra 1.3million people were on the roads on one of the worst travel days of the year for Brits driving home for Christmas

MILLIONS of travellers faced delays as they tried to get away for Christmas on Frantic Friday.

On the roads, an estimated 1.3million people added to the usual traffic but many were held up after a string of incidents.

 Flights, trains and motorways were disrupted yesterday
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Flights, trains and motorways were disrupted yesterday
 Motorists were stuck in heavy traffic on the A14 near Cambridge yesterday  on one of the busy travel days of the year
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Motorists were stuck in heavy traffic on the A14 near Cambridge yesterday  on one of the busy travel days of the yearCredit: GEOFF ROBINSON.

Highways England said there were 15 severe incidents and 31 other crashes causing tailbacks on motorways, including the M25, M40, M60 and M6.

South Western Railways said 30 services were axed because drivers and guards had called in sick.

Virgin Trains West Coast cancelled some services after a strike was called off at the last minute.

Flights to and from Bristol Airport were halted after an Embraer 145 jet carrying 25 people from Frankfurt, Germany, slid off the runway.

 A lorry caught fire close to junction nine of the M40 near Bicester
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A lorry caught fire close to junction nine of the M40 near BicesterCredit: Twitter/scruffgolfer
 Frantic Friday had already begun on the M60 near Clifton, Manchester early yesterday morning
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Frantic Friday had already begun on the M60 near Clifton, Manchester early yesterday morningCredit: Mercury Press
 Waterloo Station was packed out as travellers prepared to go home for the holidays
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Waterloo Station was packed out as travellers prepared to go home for the holidaysCredit: Rex Features
 Yesterday there were delays of up to three hours on the M6
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Yesterday there were delays of up to three hours on the M6
 Frantic Friday certainly lived up to its name
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Frantic Friday certainly lived up to its name
 Drivers made an early getaway on the M5 motorway near to Junction 3, Birmingham yesterday morning
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Drivers made an early getaway on the M5 motorway near to Junction 3, Birmingham yesterday morningCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

Nobody was hurt but dozens of departures and arrivals were either cancelled or diverted to other airports.

Things are not expected to get any ­better with almost two million drivers on the roads tomorrow, and persistent rain and strong winds forecast.

Last night the RAC’s Rod Dennis said: “The roads are traditionally busy in the run-up to Christmas, especially when you have commuters, commercial and leisure traffic all competing for space.

“Things tend to get worse on the last working day before Christmas with Frantic Friday.”

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