As Britain gears up for the August bank holiday weekend, the Highways Agency claims it will be making life easier for those who take to the country’s roads by either completing or suspending miles of roadworks. It said that by Friday it would have finished 280 miles of traffic works at 83 locations and intends to clear lane restrictions and works at another 24 locations.

Work is not set to resume until midnight on Monday at the very earliest. The Agency will be deploying traffic officers who will be on hand to tackle any problems should they arise. Information will also be provided by the Highways Agency for those wishing to plan their bank holiday travels in detail.

Philip Hammond, the UK’s Transport Secretary, said 98 per cent of the country’s roads would be free of roadworks and speed restrictions. However, lane and speed limits would have to remain in force at 32 sites around the country where it would be dangerous to lift them.

Last night there was some disruption caused on the M5 close to Exeter due to a pile-up. Emergency services were deployed and the road had to be closed in both directions. No fatalities were reported, but a number of people were cut out of their vehicles and taken by helicopter to hospital, some with serious injuries, according to reports.

Good news has been delivered by UK weather forecasters who believe the weather over the next three days will be mostly fine. On Monday, in some areas, temperatures are set to hit 20C.