Some 28 per cent of British drivers will make an early getaway to beat the bank holiday traffic queues, according to a survey from moneysupermarket.com.

The price comparison website said that one in ten (11%) bank holiday drivers will leave on Thursday, and a further 17% will have made their escape by mid afternoon on Friday.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “The bank holiday is always a busy time on Britain’s roads, and no one wants to waste half of their break stuck in traffic. But it’s always a toss up between leaving early or waiting till the rush has passed, and our research shows that the majority of bank holiday drivers prefer not to risk leaving it too late to make a break for it.

“If you are thinking of leaving in the small hours, make sure you really are alert enough to drive and be prepared to make regular stops. You should also ensure you have all the emergency items and details you need in case of a night-time car breakdown.”