NEW figures reveal the traffic misery that families are set to face as they head west for summer holidays.

The AA expects the rush to begin tomorrow as many schools break up this week.

Analysis of traffic patterns in 2015 by transport information supplier Inrix found that the potential for congestion on the A303 around Stonehenge was eight times higher on Fridays during the summer holidays compared to the week before the annual getaway.

Mondays and Thursday also saw steep increases in the chance of being stuck in a jam, whereas Saturdays were up just 10% and Sundays even lower.

A plan to build a 4km tunnel from King Barrow Ridge to Airman's Corner to ease congestion near the World Heritage Site was chosen at a planning conference in 1995, but the scheme was dropped the following year after it was considered too expensive.

In December 2014 the Government announced a fresh proposal to build a dual-carriageway tunnel past the stones at a cost of between £275 million and £1.32 billion.

In October last year the Department for Transport confirmed road investment in the region worth £2 billion.

AA president Edmund King said: "A plan to build a tunnel pops up like a mole every 10 years before disappearing again.

"The frustrating thing is that our European neighbours would just get on with it, opening up a region to its full potential.

"It's ironic that this is one time when motorists would like our politicians to get us into a hole.

"The AA and its members hope desperately that October's £2bn road upgrade commitment for the South West doesn't become yet another monument to UK roads policy indecision."

Another stretch of road that is often congested with holiday traffic is the M27/A31 interchange, as traffic heads to the New Forest or beyond to destinations in Dorset such as Bournemouth.

The chances of running into snarled-up traffic on Fridays and Saturdays is 40% higher during the holiday season.

According to the study the worst time to drive on this stretch is between noon and 4pm, with a fall of up to 80% from late afternoon going into the evening.

Mornings are also much less likely to see an increase in congestion during the summer getaway period.

Mr King claimed there were "two very clear messages" from the AA's traffic analysis.

He said: "The early traveller catches the easier ride to holiday heaven, and families who time their summer getaway to the New Forest, south Dorset and the West Country to start and end on a Sunday, stand a considerably better chance of a smooth and relaxing journey to their holiday destination."