XMAS HELLIDAYS

TRAVEL CHAOS HITS ROAD, RAIL SEA & AIR TRIPS

- NATASHA WYNARCZYK

BUMPER to bumper on roads and at ports, or jumper to jumper in stations and airports - Britain was at a seasonal standstill yesterday.

Thanks to strikes, road closures and Storm Pia, festive travellers faced delays and extra worry.

Officials at the Port of Dover said "exceptionally heavy traffic" was causing backlogs for passengers crossing the Channel.

A spokesman said travellers faced 90-minute waits ahead of French border checks in Dover.

Heathrow Airport handled almost 250,000 passengers on "Flyaway Friday", leading to long queues at security, and the check-in area at Manchester Airport's Terminal 1 was packed.

Following storm chaos on Thursday, as Storm Pia swept across the north, the Met Office has issued further weather warnings for the next few days.

Gusts as high as 60-70mph are forecast to hit northern and central areas of England on Sunday, and the north of Scotland.

A Met Office spokesman predicted icy conditions, while Christmas Eve travel plans in particular could be ruined with heavy winds set to batter parts of the country ahead of a rainsoaked Christmas Day.