Drivers should leave extra time and make sure they have plenty of water before setting out in the hit weather says Highways England.

With the Met Office's first ever extreme heat warning issued for the south west, motorists could be at risk if they find themselves stuck in traffic without adequate preparation, especially as the dropping of Covid-19 restrictions means there could me more people on the roads.

Highways England's advice says: "Take bottles of water with you to ensure you stay hydrated; plan and leave plenty of time for journeys; cCheck the weather forecast for your destination; check travel conditions before setting out and, where it is safe to do so, during journeys; ensure you and your cars are fit for the journey

Dan Lacey, the agency's National Network Manager, said: “Safety is our top priority and we want all drivers to safely reach their destinations during the hot weather.

"I would urge people to prepare for their journey by stocking up on water, checking their vehicles, particularly tyre pressures and tread, oil levels and coolant.

“As a company, we are making preparations for the safety of our roadworkers operating in extreme heat, and we ask people travelling on our network to be equally prepared.

“During the pandemic and foreign travel restrictions, we are seeing a lot of people making staycation journeys, particularly to the South West. We and our recovery partners are responding to an increasing number of breakdowns, so we’re asking people to check their vehicles, assess travel conditions before they set off and be prepared.”

Further weather advice and information can be found at metoffice.gov.uk/