M4, M5 and M32 traffic updates as Easter bank holiday weekend getaway begins

People are being warned to expect delays on the roads this weekend Credit: PA

This weekend is expected to be the busiest Easter bank holiday in eight years on the UK's roads, according to the RAC.

The firm says more than 21 million people are planning a trip this weekend - and there will also be disruption on the UK's rail network.

When is the best time to travel this Easter?

RAC says today (Good Friday) is set to be the busiest day, with around 4.62 million people planning trips but they suggest the best time to travel is before 9am or after 7.30pm.

On Saturday and Easter Sunday the firm estimates there will be around 3.63 million trips.

The RAC says the best time to travel on Saturday and Sunday is after 3pm.

People are being advised to travel either before 10.30am or after 6.30pm on Easter Monday, if they want to avoid traffic.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “After two years of relatively quiet Easter bank holidays on the roads, our research suggests a return to traffic levels that are much more typical of this time of year, and it’s very possible this weekend could turn out to be one of the busiest for leisure journeys for many years."

Rail passengers have also been warned of delays as Network Rail carries out 530 engineering projects costing a total of £83million.

We'll bring you the latest updates for the M4, M5, M32 and other major routes in the West Country below...

16:00

One lane closed due to fire services activity on M4 Westbound between J17 A350 near Chippenhan and J18 A46 near Bath.

15:35

The A30 Eastbound is partially blocked with queueing traffic due to a car fire around the A377 in Exeter.

15:15

Reports of an accident with three vehicles involved on A4151 Broad Street near the Silver Street Roundabout in Gloucestershire.

14:35

A361 in both directions partially blocked, slow traffic due to accident between Clink Road in Frome and B3090 in Beckington.

14: 33

All lanes have reopened on the M4 westbound between junction 19 and 20. Travel time is around 30 minutes on the part of the route.

14:30

Reports of slow traffic on the A361 in both directions from Frome to Somerset due to an accident.

Queueing traffic due to earlier broken down vehicle on M4 Westbound between J19 M32 in Bristol and J20 M5 J15 (Almondsbury Interchange). Travel time is around 30 minutes. All lanes have been re-opened.

12:30

The A419 at Cirencester in Gloucestershire is closed in both directions due to an accident involving a car and a bike between the A417 and Dobbies Garden Centre.

11:20am

All traffic is being temporarily held and queues are building due to accident on M4 Westbound between J18 A46 in Bath and J19 M32 in Bristol.

10:30am

There is queueing traffic and traffic heavier than normal on the M5 Southbound from J15 M4 at the Almondsbury Interchange between Bristol and Gloucestershire.

9am

There is traffic congestion on the M5 southbound at junction J20 near Clevedon. There are delays of around 10 minutes, according to National Highways.

8:45am

There is a broken down vehicle on the A38 westbound near Ashburton, Devon. One lane is closed but it is expected to be cleared by 10am, according to National Highways.

7:30am

The traffic reporting service Inrix says:

"No fuel available at the lorry pumps on M5 Northbound at Mule Street (Michaelwood Services). Located between J15 and J14."