Travel news live: Traffic on M25 and M5 as Christmas getaway begins amid 85mph winds

Travel in Scotland over the weekend ahead of the Christmas celebrations is predicted to be impacted, as strong winds set to hit and gusts in excess of 80 mph in coastal districts.

Douglas Cairns from Transport Scotland said: “The strong winds across Scotland this weekend are expected to have an impact on the transport network.

“Road, rail, air and ferry services are all likely to be affected by the conditions, with longer journey times and cancellations possible, as well as potential restrictions on bridges. The network is also expected to be busier than usual, given it’s the last weekend before Christmas.

“As always, we ask travellers to plan their journeys before setting off to ensure they reach their festive celebrations in good time. If you’re driving, make sure your vehicle is winter ready and follow any Police Scotland travel advice that may be in place. Traffic Scotland provides up-to-date travel information on the trunk road network through its website, X account and internet radio broadcasts.

“The same advice goes for other modes of transport – if you are planning to travel by rail, air or ferry, stay in contact with your operator for the latest service information.”

Passengers are flowing in and out of the UK’s airports smoothly on what for several of them – London Heathrow, Luton, Newcastle and Glasgow – is the busiest in the winter.

Most flights are leaving and arriving largely on time, though some arrivals from the US were a couple of hours behind schedule.

One irregular operation involved a Ryanair flight from Vilnius in Lithuania to the airline’s main base, London Stansted.

The Boeing 737 Max operating flight FR542 took off normally and flew for half-an-hour before turning back and diverting to another Lithuanian city, Kaunus.

The plane stayed on the ground for about 90 minutes then continued its journey to London.

The Independent has contacted Ryanair for comment.

As millions flock to UK airports this Christmastime and into the New Year, there are several things that will make life much easier ahead of travelling.

Making sure your holiday money is sorted in advance, researching customs rules and making sure you can reach the airport amid train cancellations and planned closures are among some top tips to try and make Christmas air travel less stressful.

For more Christmas holiday tips from Simon Calder, read here:

The state-run rail firm Northern has announced a wide range of cancellations in northwest England for Sunday.

The train operator said: “Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the North West and for that we are sorry.

“The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.”

On six routes, buses with replace trains. “Journeys will be longer and less frequent,” Northern warns. The routes are: Preston – Colne Preston – Blackpool South Oxenholme – Windermere Stockport – Chester Stockport – Crewe Wigan North Western – Euxton – Preston

There could also be long gaps on service of up to four hours on other lines, such as Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton.

The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the between A380 (Kennford) & B3344 (Chudleigh) due to a serious collision.

Devon & Cornwall Police and emergency services are currently on scene.

Road users are advised to follow the Solid Circle diversion symbol on road signs.

• Heading south on Devon Expy/A38.
• Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly left onto A380 (signs for Torquay).
• Take the B3195 exit towards Kingsteignton/Ideford/Combe.
• Continue onto B3195.
• Keep left to stay on B3195.
• At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Strap Lane.
• At the roundabout, continue straight onto Clay Pits Way/B3193.
• Continue onto B3344.
• Turn right to merge onto Devon Expy/A38 towards Plymouth.

Traffic is building on the M4 westbound at J11 by Reading.

Traffic England is reporting that two of three lanes are closed on the motorway.

They added normal traffic conditions are expected to return at 8.30pm.

The Independent has been investigating European tourist attractions open on Christmas Day.

Many top attractions are open (though sometimes with reduced hours) on 25 December. They include the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam; the Abba Museum in Stockholm, and Disneyland Paris.

For animal attractions, you can choose between Lisbon Aquarium and Prague Zoo.

And if you are heading out for the day in the UK, all 664 Wetherspoons pubs will be open – but only those at airports will serve food.

London Northwestern Railway announced that trespassers on the railway at Northampton blocked all the lines.

A spokesperson said: “Train services running through this station are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed.”

Buses will replace trains between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier from Sunday 22 December, with trains returning to service on Monday, 6 January.

Network Rail is using the festive period as an opportunity to strengthen the bridge across the Lymington River between Lymington Town and Pier stations, as well as re-railing Lymington Town Level Crossing and improving the Brockenhurst Level Crossing.

Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We appreciate that there is never a good time to close the railway, however the statistics show that fewer people travel during the festive period.

“Once this work is completed, passengers using the branch line will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys.”