Hottest day of the year as the Great British getaway begins

It was the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures edged towards 29C (84F), leaving the likes of Los Angeles, Mallorca and Barcelona in the shade.

But the heat may have been a mixed blessing for the millions of families taking to the motorways on the first weekend since the schools broke up.

Big getaway: Airports, roads and railways will be full of families heading for their annual summer holiday this weekend

The heat-wave continues unabated on Bournemouth beach

The hottest spot was Cranwell in Lincolnshire where the thermometer registered 28.6C (83F), a whisker higher than the previous record on Thursday of 28.2C (82F).

Motoring organisations had warned that this weekend would be the busiest for years as millions choose to holiday in this country because of the economic squeeze and rising airline prices.

Holidaymakers heading for the West Country faced long delays after a fatal road crash temporarily closed the M5 near Exeter at about 5.30am today.

Jams of up to 15 miles were reported after the smash, in which one person died and another was left in a critical condition.

A police spokesman said: 'The M5 has now been reopened but there are long tailbacks.

Elsewhere nineteen people were injured - three of them seriously - in a collision between a coach and a car.

Motorists were advised to find alternative routes after the crash on the A66 near the Temple Sowerby Bypass, Cumbria at 8.20am.

Add those to problems on some key rail routes and up to18million cars are expected to take to the roads, leading to warnings of much greater delays than usual.

Rachel Collin (left) and Kate Bolitho enjoy the weather on a beach near Padstow, Cornwall as temperatures look reach the highest of the year so far

'Stay in your garden to soak up the sun,' was the advice from motoring groups.

The AA warned yesterday over the cost of motorway petrol.

Average prices nationwide are 117.9p a litre but petrol on some motorways is as high as 123.9p a litre.

AA president Edmund King said: 'Millions of drivers will take to UK's motorways as the summer break gets under way, having endured months of high-price misery.

'To be charged 6p more than normal on motorways is really taking advantage of their near-monopoly situation.'

Forecasters predict the hot weather will continue into early next week.

Barry Gromett, spokesman for the Met Office, said: 'It's going to remain warm but it will gradually get more humid.'

The worst traffic delays are expected on the M6 between Cheshire and the Lake District and the M5 between junctions 15 to 20 past Bristol and junctions 23 to 29 through Somerset and Devon.

More holidaymakers enjoyed the sunshine in Cornwall - but thunderstorms may be on the way

Long term roadworks which will add to delays, including the M1 in Hertfordshire, the M27 in Hampshire, the M4 in Cardiff and the M6 in the West Midlands.

And there will be no escape from the crowds at the airports.

Almost a million travellers will fly out of London's three major airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - this weekend.