Boxing Day shoppers to face traffic during rail strike

Bargain hunters have been told to expect traffic around shopping centres as rail strikes see train services disrupted on Boxing Day.

A small number of services usually operate on 26 December, but no trains will run in the UK today.

A walkout by RMT union members started on Christmas Eve and is set to end at 06:00 GMT on 27 December.

The AA expects 15.2 million cars on the roads throughout Monday.

An AA spokesperson said: "Traffic is likely to build around shopping centres as lots of people seek a bargain in the sales, meanwhile football fans will travel to see their teams."

The RAC also highlighted two stretches of the M25 as likely hotspots for traffic - including from junction 7 to 16 clockwise, and from junction 4 to 1 anti-clockwise.

People planning to jet off for a festive getaway will need to find other ways of getting to and from the UK's airports as transfer services including the Heathrow Express and Stansted Express are also affected.

Instead, people can travel on Megabus or National Express bus services if they need public transport, as they run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day each year.