Motorists are set to ignore the wet and windy weather, with around 13 million people planning to take to the road over the upcoming school half-term holiday week.

From the RAC, the estimated figure includes a total of about four million looking to get away today and tomorrow.

A further three million are likely to be on the move on Saturday and Sunday, with more than two million hitting the road on Saturday November 1.

RAC roadside operations manager Matt Dallaway said: "More wet and windy weather is expected, so we're warning people to plan ahead and be prepared."

Transport company National Express said more than 160,000 passengers had bought coach tickets for the half-term period - a record for an October half-term and up 5% on last year.

The company said London was the most popular destination, followed by Stansted and Heathrow airports, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.

National Express added that Sunday October 26 was the most popular travel day, with nearly 22,000 journeys booked.

Meanwhile, travel organisation Abta and the Foreign Office are warning of the dangers of travelling overseas without travel insurance as a survey by Abta revealed that 22% of people now travel uninsured.

This is a rise on the figure of 19% in a survey last year.

The latest poll, of 2,001 people, also showed that 35% of 16 to 24-year-olds and 36% of 25 to 34-year-olds said they did not take out travel insurance.

Also, 19% of 16 to 24-year-olds and 23% of 25 to 34-year-olds thought travel insurance was unnecessary as the UK Government would pay for their treatment if they fell ill overseas.

Abta's chief executive Mark Tanzer said it was "a worrying trend", while Sher Houston from the Know Before You Go (KBYG) campaign team at the Foreign Office said young people were "risking thousands of pounds in medical bills".

Separately, KBYG is launching an awareness campaign with TV programme A Place in the Sun to urge UK retirees and others considering a move abroad to think long-term and plan thoroughly.

A survey of British nationals of retirement age looking to move overseas showed that few prioritised doing research before moving while only 10% saw their long-term financial requirements as the most important factor.

The most popular destination this half-term is Barcelona, followed by Dublin, Tenerife, Amsterdam and Orlando in Florida.