Compounding the travel disruption are a number of engineering works facing South Western Railway this weekend, external affecting services running from London Waterloo to stations in Surrey, including Guildford, Epsom and Dorking.

Some services in Petersfield and Leatherhead terminate early while other lines are operating a replacement bus service.

Passengers are being advised to check routes before they travel.

Travellers affected could include people going to Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and the Channel ports.

The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour between 10:00 and 21:00 at weekends between Junctions 9 and 11.

St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, warned patients to “only visit if necessary”.

It said in a statement: “If you are visiting the hospital over that weekend, please be aware of the diversions that will be in place and that there is likely to be considerable congestion in the local area. “