A fleet of caravans choked traffic on the M5 this morning as millions of motorists tried to make a “Super Saturday” getaway.
As lockdown restriction were eased across England, allowing overnight stays and meals out in pubs and restaurants, roads and motorways were gridlocked with tourists heading to the coast.
The M25 was clogged with traffic between junction 24 and 25 due to a broken down vehicle as Londoners tried to make their way out of the capital.
Resorts including Alton Towers were also opening today for the first time in more than three months, with safety measures in place such as temperature checking upon entrance.
There were multiple reports of accident on the M5, with the Exeter-based HART ambulance team seen heading southbound towards Junction 31, MailOnline reported.
Posting a picture of the tailbacks, one Twitter user wrote: “Genuinely concerned about the amount of people heading into Devon and Cornwall. The M5 at #Exeter is already backed up and every other vehicle is a caravan.”
Another said: “The M5 looks like a caravan park. Good luck Cornwall.”
Visit Cornwall chief executive Malcolm Bell has warned people to book ahead as bookings rise 'across the board' for the region, with web traffic for the site increasing by 20 per cent from the same time last year.
He told MailOnline: 'We're advising people to book ahead as there is a limited capacity, like campsites for example have reduced camping and so we have seen a rise in bookings. We would say to people to do their research, crack on and book ahead.
Super Saturday - in pictures
Super Saturday - in pictures
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One of the first drinkers at the reopening of the Rochester Castle pub in Stoke Newington, north London,
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Miya Towse has her hair cut at The Chair salon shortly after midnight and reopening in Canterbury
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Louise Wilson and Jennifer Arnold were married at Runcorn Town Hall Registry Office at one minute past midnight
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Michael Robinson, 61, has the first drink at the reopening The Toll Gate, a Wetherspoons pub in Hornsey, north London
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Andrew Slawinaki, 51, reading his paper while having a pint of Guinness at the reopening The Toll Gate
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Clare Streeter wears a face mask as she has her hair cut as the first customer back at the strike of midnight in Canterbury
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Customers drink beer at The Holland Tringham Wetherspoons pub in London
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Customers walking into the Shakespeares Head pub in Holborn, London
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A member of bar staff pulls a pint at the Shakespeares Head pub in Holborn, London
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Customers queue to order a drink at The Holland Tringham
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A worker carries a beer at The Holland Tringham
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Bar staff waits for customers at the Rochester Castle pub in Stoke Newington, north London
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Miya Towse has her hair cut at The Chair salon
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Owner Carole Rickaby cuts customer Sandra Jacobs' hair at Tusk Hair stylists in Camden just after midnight
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A customer has her hair washed at Tusk Hair stylists in Camden
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Customers have their hair washed and cut in Canterbury
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Jonathan Callister has his hair cut shortly after midnight in Canterbury
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The Chair salon owner, Katie Hancock, wears a protective face shield as she washes and cuts the hair of Clare Streeter
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Jennifer and Louise Arnold-Wilson married at Runcorn Town Hall Registry Office at one minute past midnight
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Runcorn Town Hall Registry Office, where Jennifer and Louise were married at one minute past midnight
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'A lot of businesses are pleased they can ask for deposits and payments now - we've had an increase in new users on our website, exceeding last year. So people who were thinking of going to the Algarve or Tuscany are now thinking of Cornwall.
'The strong message is you have to book before you come and also remember to book for restaurants and attractions as they've all gone to pre-booking.'
