Fewer cars are expected on the roads during half term, predicts the AA, as families put off autumn breaks in favour of saving for Christmas.

With higher energy bills and rising food prices placing huge demands on family outgoings - and December just six weeks away - the breakdown service says it expects to see people staying much closer to home when schools are shut next week.

Kent has faced traffic chaos this week, with Just Stop Oil protestors forcing the closure of the Dartford bridge, while ongoing weekend roadworks on the M20, M2 slip road and A249 at Sittingbourne continue to cause long delays for motorists.

But with Christmas around the corner, traffic analysis by the AA which releases predictions ahead of every school break and major bank holiday, suggest that things will be a lot quieter this year compared to previous October school holidays as households opt for park trips and smaller days out locally to try and save money ahead of a costly end to the year.

While there may be a small spike in traffic on Friday evening, as the closure of schools for the week collides with rush hour, traffic analysts believe that the number of people travelling overall next week on England's major routes will not match levels seen during other autumn breaks.

Sean Sidley from the AA said: "Half-term travel can be quite hectic, but we are expecting a quieter week as people look to cushion the blow from a string of higher bills whilst planning for a happy Christmas."

"Those heading out in their cars could become complacent by not carrying out pre-journey vehicle checks. Spending five minutes checking your car over before setting off can make all the difference between making it to your destination or ending up with an avoidable and expensive repair bill."

Inflation has returned to the 40-year high it hit in the summer, primarily driven by rising food prices. The 10.1% figure for September matches July and stretches far beyond the government's 2% target.

Shoppers are now needing to pay around £54 a month extra for the average family-sized shopping bill, says a recent study of UK food prices and shopping habits, while higher energy bills are on the horizon again after the government announced it was pulling the plug on its initial proposal to freeze prices for the next two years.

Instead, support for all homes is only being offered until the end of March and from April prices will return to being controlled by the energy price cap, which could see the average gas and electric bill cost more than £4,000 a year.

New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “I understand that families across the country are struggling with rising prices and higher energy bills.

"This Government will prioritise help for the most vulnerable while delivering wider economic stability and driving long-term growth that will help everyone.

"We have acted decisively to protect households and businesses from significant rises in their energy bills this winter, with the Government’s energy price guarantee holding down peak inflation."