DRIVERS in Worcestershire could face delays today as the Christmas getaway is expected to start - with thousands of motorists set to take to the roads.

More than 18 million cars out of a total 26 million in the UK will be driven on the country's roads at some point over the festive season.

Today, Christmas Eve, and Monday, January 5, are predicted to be the busiest days for traffic - with some major motorways expected to see a 25 per cent increase in use.

Last year, the breakdown recovery service the AA dealt with more than 140,000 broken down vehicles over the two-week Christmas period and is expecting a similar number this year.

Graham Webb, spokesman for the AA, urged drivers to give themselves plenty of time to prepare for the journey.