More than 97 per cent of motorways and strategic A-roads will be roadworks-free in time for Christmas, meaning motorists and hauliers alike can get on with last-minute shopping and delivery journeys with as little disruption as possible.

Where it is safe to do so, roadworks will be lifted or suspended on England’s motorways and major A-roads by 6am on Friday 21 December until 12.01am on Wednesday 2 January.

Highways England’s customer service director Melanie Clarke said: “We’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible for this Christmas getaway and that’s why we’re keeping more than 97 per cent of our road network free from roadworks.

“We know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times on our roads and we’d also like to remind people about the importance of checking their vehicle before setting off on their journeys. Simple things like checking your fuel and oil levels, tyre pressures and that all lights are working properly, can keep you moving and the network flowing.”

Highways England says its traffic officers will be working around the clock, patrolling the network to help those who do get into difficulty.

And the company responsible for managing England’s major road network is also reminding people to leave plenty of distance between themselves and the vehicle in front to avoid tailgating.

Statistics released earlier this year show that one in eight of all road casualties are caused by people who drive too close to the vehicle in front, with more than 100 people killed or seriously injured each year.

To celebrate the importance of the major A-road and motorway network over the festive break, a special animation has been produced: