Traffic disruption is to be kept to a minimum over the Christmas holiday - after Highways England announced it was finishing or suspending 448 miles of roadworks between Friday, December 23 and Tuesday, January 3 to make life easier for people travelling to see friends or families.

It aims to complete or lift 448 miles of roadworks – leaving 98 per cent of its 9,534-mile network free of roadworks in time for the Christmas getaway.

Near Slough, half a mile's worth of roadworks will be completed on the M4 junction 5 exit slip in time for the holiday. While near Colnbrook upgrading work over 2.5miles between junctions 4B and 5 and improvements on half a mile of work on the M25 A link to M24 are also expected to be completed.

An inspection survey on the A30 Runnymede roundabout to junction 13 that has caused half a mile of roadworks will also be finished.

Highways England operations director, Nick Harris said: “This Christmas bank holiday, we’re helping drivers with their journeys by clearing roadworks on most of our motorways and major A-roads.

“Our traffic officers will also be on patrol working to clear any incidents; the vast majority of which will be dealt with in under an hour.

“We’re asking people to be prepared before setting off. Make sure you have everything you need for your journey should there be any delays, check before and during your journey and also make sure you’re aware of the signs and signals on motorways.”

Meanwhile Highways England - which is the Government company responsible for the country's roads - has revealed the result of an online poll highlighting people would most drivers would like to have as a travelling companion during their festive car journeys.

Sir David Attenborough, chef Gordon Ramsay and singer Kylie Minogue all featured. The survey also shows that 50 per cent of drivers will be travelling more than 50 miles to visit friends and relatives at Christmas.