THE M5 through Somerset is set to bear the brunt of bank holiday delays as millions head off on getaways this weekend.

New data from the RAC and travel analyst Inrix predicts the county motorway route will be hard hit amid more than 17.5 million journeys across the country this weekend.

Traffic is expected to build from Friday (August 22) to Saturday, with more than 3m trips each day. A further 2.4m are planned on Sunday and 2.7m on Monday, while an additional 6.1m drivers are planning trips at some point between Friday and Monday.

And experts at Inrix believe the M5 between Bristol and Devon – through Somerset – will bear the brunt of the getaway traffic.

Analysts said the stretch from junction 15 – north of Bristol – to junction 23 for Bridgwater is likely to see some of the worst delays, of more than 40 minutes on both Friday and Saturday.

Elsewhere, the M20 in Kent could also suffer afternoon hold-ups of more than half an hour in both directions on Friday.

The busiest times to drive will be between 10am and 7pm on Friday, 9am and 5pm on Saturday and 11am and 6pm on Monday.

The best time to travel on Friday is after 7pm, whereas on Saturday it’s before 9am and on Monday before 11am. On Sunday, however, traffic is expected to be mostly free-flowing.

READ MORE: Motoring news from your Somerset Leveller

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, Nick Mullender, warned people to do what they could to avoid breakdown over the weekend.

“With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18m drivers planning getaway trips,” he said.

“More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations. We’re expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the South East and South West regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups. Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.

“Every minute is precious on bank holidays and a breakdown has no place on the itinerary. Be confident your car is ‘road ready’ by checking it has enough oil and coolant, as well as ensuring that tyres are free of damage, have enough tread and are inflated properly.”