Heavy traffic and heightened police presence are expected across Bulgaria on Friday as people continue their trips on the first day from the Easter holiday - Good Friday.

Another 100 000 vehicles are expected to leave the Bulgarian capital on Friday.

The heaviest traffic is expected at the exits of Sofia, the Hemus, Trakia and Struma motorways, the I-1 (E79) road between Sofia and Kulata checkpoint at the border with Greece.

Between 8 and 14 o’clock two lanes will be provided at the exit of Sofia in the direction of Pernik in order to ease traffic along the busy route to Greece.

There is heavy traffic at the checkpoints along the borders with Greece and Romania.

Heavy traffic is also expected between the cities of Ruse to Varna due to the high number of Romanian tourists entering through Danube Bridge.

Upon entering Bulgaria, Romanian tourists are handed maps with alternative routes to the Black Sea resorts due to the repair works of the Asparuhov bridge in Varna.

A total of 180 traffic police crews will be regulating traffic on motorways and the main roads during the Easter holiday.

Analysts estimate that half a million Bulgarians will travel within the country or abroad during the Easter holiday.

Bulgarians are mainly heading towards relatives and friends, but a lot of tourist bookings have also been made.

Around 140 000 Bulgarians will spend the holiday abroad – mainly in Greece, Serbia and Romania.

More than 100 000 Romanians and around 60 000 Greeks are expected to visit Bulgaria.

The national railway company has provided nearly 20 000 additional places on trains over the holiday period.

Citizens and transport firms can obtain the latest traffic information from the free mobile application LIMA, the website of the Road Infrastructure Agency (api.bg) and the 24/7 telephone line 0700 130 20.