Bank holiday weekend could be a washout

After the hottest April on record, our weather is set to take a turn for the worse with showers predicted for most regions.

The rain is expected to arrive tomorrow evening and continue until at least Monday. The only areas to escape the odd downpour could be in the South.

There is no better news on the roads, which the RAC says will suffer their 'worst ever' congestion for a May Day holiday.

It said Sunday and Monday would be the busiest days with at least 50 per cent more vehicles out and about than normal. The RAC and Trafficmaster singled out the M25, the M1 through Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire and the M6 around Birmingham as 'congestion hotspots'.

The Lake District and the M5 south of Bristol are expected to be particularly busy as are routes to the coast.

Rail travellers face widespread disruption with replacement coach services in operation on a number of lines. Journey times will be extended by at least an hour.

There will be engineering work on the West Coast mainline around Rugby on Sunday with services between London Euston and Milton Keynes replaced by buses. Work on the East Coast Mainline at Hitchin from 2pm tomorrow will cause further problems.

Network Rail says that essential maintenance work is carried out over holiday periods because fewer people are travelling.

Airport officials are expecting lengthy queues at check-ins and advise passengers to arrive in plenty of time. New rules on baggage allowances as well as extra security measures could add to the delays.

Passengers travelling for the first time since the new security arrangements came into force were urged to ensure they complied with restrictions on hand luggage and liquids.

More than 750,000 people are expected to pass through Heathrow over the next four days, with 365,700 using Gatwick and 266,500 Stansted.

The most popular destinations for holidaymakers are New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin and Los Angeles.

Employers fear millions of workers will feign sickness to extend their break, either today or on Tuesday.

The Confederation of British Industry and the Forum of British Business said 'short-term sickies' were costing firms billions. Workers take an average of seven days off ill a year, costing the economy £ 13.4billion, according to research by the CBI and insurance company AXA.

Employers believe around 12 per cent of these absences are suspect and involve staff 'pulling a sickie'.

A CBI spokesman said: 'That means 21million days were lost in 2006 at a cost to the economy of £1.6billion.'

A poll showed that 70 per cent of firms believe staff are taking unauthorised long weekends.

Today and tomorrow are expected to be dry and sunny with temperatures reaching 20c. Sunday will see heavy showers in west Scotland, Northern Ireland and North-West England.