Travel news: Christmas chaos as London trains halted and queues on roads – live

The AA has issued an Amber Traffic Warning today with more than 16.4 million cars expected to travel on this day, causing lengthy jams at traffic hotspots.

The AA president Edmund King said: “While Friday 22 December and Saturday 23 December look set to be the busiest travelling days, the unsettled weather forecast could lead to additional delays so drivers should drive to the conditions and slow down where necessary.”

Amongst many other destinations, this will affect journeys to South Wales, Bristol, the West Country and Heathrow Airport; also Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle and Peterborough.

If you were planning on travelling to these destinations on Christmas Eve, you may have to use replacement buses, use services from alternative London terminals, and possibly change trains once or more during your journey.

Many train services are not running as late as usual, so passengers are advised to check their journey before they travel.

Chaos unfolded yesterday when a shock strike hit Eurotunnel train services, at least 30 trains were cancelled on Thursday with services not resuming until Friday.

Eurostar, which operates passenger rail services to and from London St Pancras, is operating two extra trains per day between London and Paris including on Christmas Eve to help people whose trains were cancelled on Thursday.

Vehicle-carrying train service Eurotunnel is running its usual timetable but is only accepting customers who have pre-booked.

Motorists have been advised to travel before 11am or after 6pm to reduce the chances of being stuck on the road.

The RAC estimated 13.5 million leisure journeys by car would take place across the UK between Friday and Sunday, up 20 per cent on the three days before Christmas Day last year.

Storm Pia has unleashed Christmas travel chaos as flights are grounded due to high winds, after a sudden French strike forced the Eurotunnel to close on Thursday.

The Met Office has warned Christmas Eve travel plans could be affected with heavy winds set to batter parts of the country.

Gusts as high as 70mph are due to hit the north of Scotland and northern and central areas of England.

Two separate yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued, saying people should expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts, while the rest of the country may see showers.

Meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “People should make sure to leave more time, especially in exposed areas, it could affect rail networks and ferries.

“People travelling on roads should take care and stay away from high-sided vehicles, and for people who are at home and are going for walks, stay away from coasts.”

Drivers are being warned to expect delays on the A1 in Northumberland after a serious crash.

The road was closed in both directions on Saturday morning after the incident, which happened between the A1167 and B1340 near Belford.

Drivers are being warned to expect delays on the A1 in Northumberland after a serious crash.

The road was closed in both directions on Saturday morning after the incident, which happened between the A1167 and B1340 near Belford.

Christmas getaway travel disruption is expected, with millions of car journeys under way and major London railway stations set to close on Sunday.

The AA estimated that 16.4 million car journeys will take place on Saturday and warned of “lengthy jams”.

And rail disruption is likely on Christmas Eve as two of London’s railway stations, King’s Cross and Paddington, will be shut due to engineering works.

The closure of London Paddington will continue until Wednesday, meaning no mainline trains will serve Heathrow Airport.

Christmas Day could reach record temperatures, with only the Scottish mountains likely to see snow, the Met Office has said.

The forecaster said December 25 will be damp and windy but especially mild, with highs of 13C or 14C.

The hottest Christmas Day on record was 15.6C in 1920, so there is a “small chance” of it being a record, the Met Office added.

Meteorologist Liam Eslick said there may be snow on Christmas Day on mountains in Scotland, but it is “not looking likely that there will be a white Christmas in England”.

Good news for those crossing the channel- the queues have finally subsided.