Article: Christmas comes early as the great getaway begins; BUSINESSES BRACED FOR A RECORD SLOWDOWN AS LONDONERS BEGIN MARATHON THREE-WEEK EXODUS.

Byline: JONATHAN PRYNN;DICK MURRAY

LONDON'S longest-ever Christmas getaway kicks off tonight.

The end of the school term is expected to trigger the first wave of holiday departures this weekend and the exodus is forecast to gather pace next week.

With many offices not expecting to return to normal until 10 January, a record drop in economic output is predicted.

According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, London's productivity could dip by a record [pounds sterling]3.6billion - equivalent to about [pounds sterling]1,000 for every worker and about 25 per cent more than usual.

Dan Bridgett of the London Chamber ...

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