The great Christmas getaway was expected to start today.

Motorists are expected to start making a dash for it today but Christmas Eve is still on course to be the busiest day on the roads. People travelling by train are advised to book seats in advance.

The country is also bracing itself for the onset of winter, with temperatures expected to plummet tomorrow and hover just above freezing on December 25.

The AA has advised motorists to be prepared for the bad weather and warned that last-minute shoppers could add to the large numbers expected on Britain's roads.

Record-breaking numbers of holidaymakers are expected to head for the sun and slopes from Stansted Airport this Christmas.

The airport is predicting it will see 330,000 passengers pass through the terminal by Sunday.

The airport's biggest carrier also looks set to smash its previous Christmas records.

Low-cost airline Ryanair confirmed it will carry a record 310,000 passengers on its 44 Irish routes over Christmas and a massive 1.35 million passengers throughout Europe over the festive period this year.

More in today's Evening Gazette

Published Thursday, December 23, 2004

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