Christmas travel - as it happened: Bristol Airport closed while road and rail passengers suffer delays on 'frantic Friday'
Holidaymakers take to the roads in their droves, prompting warnings of travel chaos
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Your support makes all the difference.Two lorry fires and a closed runway at Bristol Airport caused travel misery on what was dubbed "frantic Friday" three days before Christmas.
The RAC estimated around 11 million separate getaway trips will take place before Christmas Day, with 1.3 million motorists taking to the road.
The M6 and M40 were among the roads worst affected after two separate lorries caught fire on Friday afternoon.
Drivers on the A303, which runs past Stonehenge, were told to expect traffic — last Christmas, drivers experienced 13 hours of tailbacks.
For a run-through of the day's events, check our liveblog below.
Please allow a few moments for the liveblog to load
Meanwhile, a plane coming off the runway at Bristol Airport caused travel disruption for thousands of people embarking on the Christmas getaway.
Twenty-five people were on board the BMI flight from Frankfurt when it left the runway as it was taxiing to the terminal shortly after 11.30am on Friday.
No-one was injured and passengers were taken to the terminal building by coach.
Welcome to The Independent's live blog on the ensuing travel mayhem. We'll keep you up to date so you can plan ahead. Failing that, at least we'll give you something to read when you're stuck in the back of a cramped car in a traffic jam.
The Met Office has said the day is set to be cloudy and mild — dashing hopes of a white Christmas
One lane remains closed northbound on the M1 after a van burst into flames. Here's a photo of that scene earlier this morning. The fire has now been put out and the scene is being cleaned up, Highways England said, adding: "delays are already reducing".
The A63 in Yorkshire is now fully open in both directions after a crane struck two bridges. Delays should start to ease now, according to Highways England.
Here's a picture from the scene earlier:
Another lorry is on fire. This time on the M40 outside Oxford. Highways England warned there is a lot of smoke in the area, so drive safe.
Only one lane is open on the M40 between junction 10 and 9 because of that lorry fire
Emergency services appear to have put out the fire now. According to lorry driver Peter Reynolds, the vehicle was transporting beer.
The driver of the lorry that burst into flames near Oxford is safe, according to logistics company Eddie Stobart, which owns the vehicle. It said it was investigating the incident and apologised for the delays caused.
We have some video from the scene on the M40 where traffic has been moving slowly
Plane skids off runway
All flights at Bristol Airport have been halted after an aircraft came off the runway.
Twenty-five people were on board the Embraer 145 jet when the incident occurred at 11.36am on Friday while it was taxiing after landing from Frankfurt, Germany.
An airport spokeswoman said there were no injuries and the plane was towed to an aircraft stand.
Passengers on other flights scheduled to land or take off at Bristol suffered severe disruption as the runway was closed.
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