Drivers are being warned to expect severe congestion, with the AA issuing its first 'amber traffic warning' for Friday and Saturday covering the M6 and M62 motorways.
Congestion is expected to peak between 11am and 3pm on both days. The AA said it's due to a combination of the first switchover days for holiday lets during the school summer holidays in England and Wales, the rail strikes, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the start of the Football League season in England.
And Friday got off to the worst possible start as one of the busiest stretches of motorway in England - the M6 around Preston - was closed southbound due to a HGV on fire, with long queues building around the area and firefighters at the scene.
