Heavy bank holiday traffic on M5 heading to Devon and Cornwall

Traffic has built up on the M5 Southbound, where people have been warned to expect delays.

Images shared by Highways England just before 10am show the M5 from various traffic cameras, and in each picture all three lanes are filled with vehicles travelling bumper to bumper.

Heavy congestion on the M5 Southbound on Saturday morning. Picture: Highways England

The stretch between Junction 30 and 31, around Okehampton, where the M5 meets the A30, is looking particularly heavy.

The hard shoulder is currently closed here due to road works, but this is not expected to cause delays in itself.

Highways England warned: "We are seeing congestion across the M5 Southbound, traffic continues to build.

"Please plan your journey, allowing extra time as delays are more than likely."

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There are said to be "severe delays" on the M5 Southbound between J13 and J20 near Bristol, where heavy congestion is causing delays of around 90 minutes above normal journey times.

And it's no better if you're travelling westbound from the south west, via the A303, with Highways England also warning: "If you are travelling westbound on the A303 please be aware there is heavy congestion near Stonehenge, adding 45 minutes to journey times."

There were already signs that a busy day on the roads was coming as early as 7am, when the highways authority warned that the control room was already seeing congestion starting to build.

It issued the following advice to anyone travelling to the region today and attempting to battle the traffic: "Please plan your journey allowing time for delays, pack extra water and food, take extra breaks, and check your vehicle before travelling."

Almost 400,000 holidaymakers are expected to be visiting Cornwall this half term week, according to estimated figures from Visit Cornwall that were shared with The Independent.

Some appeared to be trying to beat the traffic by travelling overnight last night, with a steady stream of lights heading down the M5 at midnight in a video shared by traffic police.

Visitors still arriving in Devon and Cornwall through the night. Picture: Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team