Significant travel disruptions have ensued as a key motorway has been shut down, leaving many Britons scrambling to reach their homes in time for the Christmas festivities.

The westbound lanes of the M2 in Kent have been closed following a car rollover accident.

Motorists have been cautioned that the closure will last for several hours, coinciding with the growing crowds at airports and train stations.

This afternoon, emergency responders, including Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and National Highways Traffic Officers, responded swiftly to the incident occurring between Junction 5 at Sittingbourne and Junction 4 at Rainham.

Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and National Highways Traffic Officers all attended.

The force said: ‘Kent Police was called at 12.50pm on Christmas Eve following a serious collision on the M2 London-bound near the Medway services.

‘The motorway is currently closed between Junctions 5 and 4 and is likely to remain so for an extended period of time. Officers are in attendance.’

The road is likely to remain shut throughout the day with drivers heading to London forced to find alternative routes.

The M2 in Kent is closed westbound after a car overturned in a crash sparking travel chaos on Christmas Eve

Emergency services rushed to the motorway between Junction 5, for Sittingbourne, and 4, for Rainham, this afternoon

A spokesperson for National Highways said: ‘The M2 in Kent is closed westbound between J5 Stockbury Interchange and J4 Brooms Wood Interchange following a serious collision which has resulted in an overturned car.

‘Kent Police are in attendance along with South East Coast Ambulance Service, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and National Highways Traffic Officers.

‘If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.’

The M27 will remain completely closed in both directions from Junction 9 to Junction 11.

Christmas traffic was estimated to be at its busiest level in five years today with 4.2million getaways.

Roads and motorways will likely remain filled with cars, train services throughout the night, while train stations and airports will be packed.

Christmas Eve could be one of the most nightmarish days to travel home on as the RAC estimate there will be 4.2million leisure trips planned, the highest of any day in the seven days leading up to Christmas and the highest level since Covid. 

There are a total of 37.5million trips planned in the same period from December 17 to December 24.

This is the highest number since the RAC began recording data in 2013 and a huge increase of 8million more trips than last year’s 29.3million.

At the same time, the AA predict there will be 22.7million cars driving home for Christmas today, causing even more chaos on the roads, though this is a slightly lower figure than on the five days leading up to it.

Massive delays were also seen on the M6 last weeks as people make their way home for Christmas

Road closures will also be another thorn in the side of drivers as major routes will be shut off starting today.

From Christmas Eve, the M27 will be shut in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from 8pm until 4am on January 4. 

The RAC has set out the worst and best times to drive on Christmas Eve.

The most congested times will be 1pm to 7pm while the best times to travel will be before 11am.

A spokesperson for the RAC said: ‘Traffic is expected to be heaviest on major roads between 1pm and 7pm, so our advice to drivers – especially those travelling longer distances – is to set out before this time if possible.

‘Drivers should ensure their vehicles are road ready: checking tyres are free of damage; have plenty of tread and are properly inflated; and ensuring oil and coolant levels are correct.

‘Headlight aim should also be adjusted according to the load being carried, to reduce the chances of dazzling other drivers. We’re also expecting a rise in breakdowns as a result of the switch to colder weather.’

See the routes which are most likely to be congested today in our list at the bottom of this page. 

Avoiding the roads could also lead to running into more congestion on the rail network as vital several services are not running during the Christmas period, particularly from London.

Rail closures may force more people onto the roads too, spelling yet more misery for drivers. 

Stations will likely be rammed with people travelling home for Christmas like here in Kings Cross

No trains will run to or from Waterloo from Christmas Day until 28 December, and a very limited service to Waterloo until 4 January.

Passengers on trains are facing particular difficulties as services Great Western Railway (GWR) between Reading and Gatwick Airport will be disrupted today due to a shortage of staff.In a post on X, GWR said: ‘Due to a shortage of train crew between Reading and Gatwick Airport the line is disrupted.

‘Train services to and from these stations may be subject to disruption on all routes.

‘Disruption is expected until 17:00.’

• Disruption between Reading and Gatwick Airport on GWR services due to staff shortages 
• No trains to or from Waterloo from Christmas Day until 28 December, and a very limited service to Waterloo until 4 January. 
• No trains between Leeds and York between Christmas Day and 6 January. 
• No trains between Cambridge North, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from Christmas Day until 5 January.
• No trains between Stratford and Liverpool St from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• No trains between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh Central, or between Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich, 24 December – 2 January.
• No trains between Milton Keynes and Rugby between Christmas Day and 5 January.
• No trains between Preston and Carlisle, 31 December- 15 January.
• No trains between Carlisle and Lockerbie from 1 January and 7 January.

A total of 42,046 departures are scheduled from UK airports between 19 December and 4 January

Airports are also bracing for an influx of Christmas travellers, particularly with the record number of getaways planned.

A total of 42,046 departures are scheduled from UK airports between 19 December and 4 January, according to data from Cirium, up 2 per cent from last year.

Thankfully, the busiest day has already come on Friday December 19 when 2,853 flights were scheduled to depart UK airports.

However, Christmas Day itself is becoming more and more popular as a flight day, with 889 flights are scheduled to depart UK airports – 10 per cent higher than last year’s and 33 per cent higher than pre pandemic levels in 2019. 

The busiest days to travel from major UK airports is are as follows, according to UK Aviation News:

• Heathrow – 19 December
• Gatwick – 21 December
• Manchester – 21 December
• Stansted – 19 December
• Birmingham – 22 December
• Luton – 19 December
• Edinburgh – 22 December
• Newcastle – 19 December
• Bristol – 19 December