Holidaymakers preparing to embark on Easter getaways from the Port of Dover are being warned they may face delays due to tighter security checks following the Moscow concert attack. The Kent port issued the alert as French authorities have stepped up border monitoring after more than 130 people were killed in the Russian capital on Friday night.
The port said in a statement: "France has heightened its border security checks following the attack in Moscow on Friday. These measures may increase border processing times at the port. Please be mindful of this when travelling to the port and check with your ferry operator for arrival times." Transport analysis company Inrix predicted that the worst congestion on Thursday will be between 2pm and 7pm as people on leisure journeys compete for road space with regular commuters. The busiest route is expected to be the western section of the M25 between the M23 for Gatwick and the M1 for Hertfordshire.
Andy Butterfield, customer services director at the Government-owned company, said: "This is the first bank holiday of the year, so we expect the roads to be busy with people looking to make the most of a long weekend. We are doing what we can to make journeys easier by removing miles of roadworks, but I would encourage everyone to take some time, plan ahead and ensure your vehicle is prepared for what might be a long journey.