Natalie Watkins, and Megan Reid, from Salop Leisure, look forward to a scorching bank holiday weekend

Shropshire holiday-makers starting their big Bank Holiday getaway escaped major traffic jams, which gridlocked other parts of the country.

The region’s roads, including the A49 in Shropshire, were busy but the Highways Agency said today that they were no worse than on “a typical Friday night”, with no reported major snarl-ups.

Millions of people are expected on the roads nationally over the weekend.

• Check out our online seven-day weather forecast here

Neil Sterio, Highways Agency spokesman, said: “As you would expect the volume of traffic on motorways and trunk roads in the west Midlands region was more than usual but it’s been one of the quietest bank holidays of the year traffic wise.”

People are expected to attend a wealth of big events in the region this weekend, with weather experts saying the weather would be mixed.

John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, said: “Today is the best day in Shropshire with temperatures of about 16C (61F) and some sunny periods plus light winds.

“Tomorrow will be rather cooler with a lot of cloud but it should stay mostly dry in the county.

“On Monday it will be rather windy with outbreaks of rain and the irony is that for most of next week it will be much warmer here.

“The best weather for the weekend will be along the south coast from Torquay to Margate.”

A variety of events are being held across the county this weekend, with one of the biggest expected to be the annual British Falconry and Raptor Fair taking place at Chetwynd Park, Newport, tomorrow and Monday.

The show opens at 10am on both days with organisers promising breathtaking falconry displays by TV star Jonathan Marshall.

One of the finest castles in the Marches, Powis Castle, near Welshpool, is opening to visitors over the weekend, while the evocative sight, sound and smell of steam trains is expected to attract enthusiasts to the 150th anniversary celebrations of Telford Steam Railway.

Today sees the start of three days of events at the Horsehay-based railway, including a special timetable using its new steam engine, a Belgian Tank loco named Yvonne.

Steam is also the theme at Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge, which holds its Steam in Miniature weekend tomorrow and Monday.

By Tom Johannsen