An estimated 7.4million people are planning an overnight trip during the Easter weekend as Britain prepares for its first spell of prolonged warm weather of the year.
Temperatures are expected to reach 77F (25C) by the Easter weekend – beating highs in many European holiday destinations, including Costa Del Sol and Corfu.
But the 'staycation' boom is set to create chaos on the UK's roads as millions of families face motorway misery with delays of up to an hour.
Temperatures are expected to reach 77F (25C) by the Easter weekend – beating highs in many European holiday destinations, including Costa Del Sol and Corfu. Pictured: The seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset
Holidaymakers and locals flocked to the beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset today as Britain began its first prolonged spell of warm weather so far this year
A survey by VisitEngland revealed 7.4million Brits are holidaying overnight for the Easter weekend, the highest amount recorded since records began in 2013.
Figures showed a further seven million Brits are undecided about whether or not to take an overnight trip in the UK this Easter, suggesting roads could be even more congested than feared.
Last year, only 4.8million people planned at least a two-day trip during the break and in 2017 it was 6.6million.
Meanwhile, Britain is set for the warmest day of the year so far on Good Friday and temperatures could build further to reach 77F (25C) by Saturday.
The 'staycation' boom is set to create chaos on the UK's roads as millions of families face motorway misery with delays of up to an hour (file photo of the M25)
The country looks set to be hotter than Rome as an area of high pressure brings warm air north from the Mediterranean – giving Britain an Easter heatwave and its first real taste of summer this year.
But it's bad news for hayfever and asthma sufferers as a pollen bomb clashes with soaring pollution levels, putting millions of people at risk of potentially lethal 'grey fever' this week.
Rising temperatures will spur trees to spew out clouds of irritant pollen as a cloud of traffic smog and factory fumes blows in from the Continent, with a combination of airborne toxins and allergens hanging in the air.
The warmest day of the year so far was nearly two months ago February 26, when 70.1F (21.2C) was recorded in Kew Gardens, South West London, during February's record-breaking spell of sunny weather.
Temperatures will be rising as the week goes on towards the Easter weekend, with 72F (22C) possible on Good Friday
Elsewhere, motorists have been told to avoid travelling on Good Friday as they were warned to expect long tailbacks on
