Strong winds warning as Christmas getaway continues

Weather warnings for strong winds are set to come into force in parts of the UK on Saturday morning as millions of people take to the roads ahead of Christmas.

The Met Office says gusts could reach 50-60mph and disruption is expected on what motoring experts are predicting will the busiest weekend of motoring this year.

The yellow warning is in place from 07:00 GMT on Saturday to 21:00 GMT on Sunday for Scotland, North West and North East England, and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.

The area covered by the warning widens on Sunday to take in South West England, Derbyshire, Hampshire, parts of the West Midlands and Yorkshire, and all of Wales and Northern Ireland.

Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over Saturday.

Forecasters say there was a small chance of gusts reaching 80mph in the far north of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland on Saturday afternoon and evening.

"Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard," the Met Office added.

Transport Scotland, said road, rail, air and ferry services are "all likely to be affected by the conditions" with cancellations and restrictions on bridges possible.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: "With the weekend bringing a mix of strong winds along with heavy, and in some places wintry, showers, it's going to make many of the estimated seven million getaway trips by car a pretty exhausting experience."

When non-leisure traffic is taken into account, nearly 14 million drivers are expected to take to road during the weekend - a new record, according to the RAC.

The winds are expected to ease by Monday, but a white Christmas is looking unlikely with cloud and rain set to move in.

"Crisp blue skies and snow on the ground" are "decidedly unlikely" over Christmas, the Met Office said.

Christmas Day itself "will be a fairly cloudy, nondescript day", Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks added.

She said: "Conditions on Christmas Day and Boxing Day look to be exceptionally mild for the time of year, especially in the north.

"East and north-east Scotland, for example, could see overnight temperatures that are 10C above average on Christmas morning."