As millions prepare to return to work after the holiday season, drivers have been told to anticipate more than 26,000 breakdowns on January 2.The rise is due to the large number of cars that were not used during the Christmas holiday after being regularly used. Now that the holiday is gone, millions of drivers are anticipated to return to work tomorrow, prompting experts to warn that a large number of broken-down cars could clog the roads.Green Flag mechanics are getting ready to sort out various problems that will affect drivers up and down the country, including flat batteries, punctured tyres and vehicles failing to start.The company's data anticipates that every minute, there will be around 18 cars that need some sort of assistance or breakdown service tomorrow.

That means breakdown teams up and down the country will have to respond to issues within approximately every three seconds.

Green Flag Managing Director Katie Lomas said: "That first day working back post the festive break can be hectic as many people start their vehicles for the first time in a couple of weeks."on Monday (January 6), when many people will return to a standard routine at work. The RAC says millions of drivers, that the day will see "flat battery blues."

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "The first working day after Christmas is typically the busiest of the year for our patrols attending drivers suffering the 'flat battery blues'.

"The first day back at work after the Christmas break is often bad enough, but it can be thoroughly depressing if nothing happens when you go to start the ignition.

"Cars left unused over the holidays, such as second vehicles left parked up, are often a breakdown statistic waiting to happen."

Hundreds of people were set to be evacuated from their homes on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police said.

The major incident had been declared as mountain rescue teams have been deployed to help Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service deal with damaged properties and stranded vehicles, the police force added.