THE FULL NELSON

Storm puts a hold on plans for Easter getaway

-  ADAM ASPINALL

THE Easter getaway was blitzed by severe weather yesterday as Storm Nelson closed rail lines and delayed ferry departures.

The Port of Dover was one of the worst hit, with strong winds in the Channel causing up to three hours of delays for some.

Around 20,000 cars were expected to travel through the port between Thursday and Easter Monday.

Some 11 million people have planned a trip this Easter, according to the VisitEngland tourist board.

But with 2.6 million leisure car trips expected yesterday, drivers have been warned journeys could take twice as long as usual.

A survey by motoring company RAC and analysis company Inrix suggests 14 million trips by road could be made across the weekend.

Travellers using the railways were also hit by the high winds. Great Western Railways closed a number of lines on Thursday due to flooding, with all lines between Westbury and Swindon shut and the main line from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads also closed.

Network Rail urged train passengers to check their journey details before they travel because some major routes will also be closed due to engineering work.

The West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes will be shut until Tuesday, and there is disruption in Glasgow and Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.