MORE than 850 miles of roadworks will be removed ahead of this coming Easter weekend as millions plan to get away – while advice has been issued on when you should hit the road to avoid delays.

National Highways said around 98 per cent of England’s motorway and major A road network will be free from roadworks over the holiday period.

Roadworks will be removed by 6am on Thursday (March 28) and not put back until Tuesday, April 2.

Andy Butterfield, customer services director at National Highways, said: “This is the first bank holiday of the year, so we expect the roads to be busy with people looking to make the most of a long weekend.

“We are doing what we can to make journeys easier by removing miles of roadworks, but I would encourage everyone to take some time, plan ahead and ensure your vehicle is prepared for what might be a long journey.”

Minister for Roads, Guy Opperman, said: “We’re on the side of drivers, which is why National Highways is lifting hundreds of miles of roadworks to make sure everyone’s Easter getaway is as smooth as possible, improving journey times and helping people get from A to B easier.”

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Meanwhile Alice Simpson, from RAC Breakdown, gave drivers tips on when is best to start their journey in a bid to avoid the traffic.

“Anyone who can delay leaving on Thursday until much later in the evening or set off as early as possible on Good Friday is likely to have a better journey than those who travel during the peak periods of the day,” she said.

“To have the best chance of a straightforward journey, we encourage motorists to check fuel, oil and coolant levels, along with tyre pressures and treads, before setting off.”

A Met Office spokesperson said: “The UK will see a typical mix of spring weather in the run-up to Easter, with periods of showers, rain and winds, as well as some sunny spells at times.

“Unsettled conditions are the main theme of the forecast through much of the week, with low pressure exerting its influence, bringing periods of rain from the west, some of which could be heavy in nature.”