BRITS are being urged to start their Christmas getaways early and hit the roads now.
That's because the perfect storm of travel chaos is just around the corner – and not just because of the congested holiday traffic.
National Highways staff, train drivers and Border Force workers will start striking in coming days, with some walking out today.
A travel expert has this morning warned the people should get on the road as soon as they possibly can.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, the expert said: "I've never known a Christmas quite like this for travel stress.
"My advice is start as early as you possibly can.
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"Towards the end of the week and on Christmas Day it's going to get very very trick, with the roads being very crowded.
"And the railways, well, services will end either on Friday night or pretty early on Saturday."
The AA is also predicting widespread disruption on the roads, with 20million car trips set to take place in the run-up to Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, staff at National Highways, the Government firm which manages and maintains UK's biggest roads, have today walked out and will not return until Boxing Day.
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The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which includes traffic officers, are in a dispute over pay.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We're aware our action is likely to inconvenience travellers but, even as we escalate it ahead of Christmas, we remind people this dispute could be resolved today [yesterday] if the Government puts more money on the table.
"Our members are telling us they have to cut back their spending at Christmas time because they are running out of money.
"They have been offered a below-inflation pay award, at a time when inflation is higher than 10 per cent."
It comes as train drivers are set to cripple the rail network, with some trains set to stop running tomorrow despite national strikes not start until Christmas eve.
And even people planning to fly may have trouble getting in and out of the country – around 1000 Border Force workers will go on strike from tomorrow until New Year.
Passport control desks at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports will all be affected.
It was yesterday announced airports could be forced to close as a result.
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