Controllers hoping flight disruption will ease

Disruption to flights should ease late on Thursday as the volcanic ash cloud moves away from British air space.

National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said all airfields in Northern Ireland will remain closed until at least 7am.

But Edinburgh Airport was able to open at 7pm on Wednesday night and Glasgow Airport is expected to reopen early on Thursday morning although the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)'s no-fly zone is expected to affect some smaller airports.

Campbeltown Airport on the west coast of Scotland is expected to stay closed until at least 7am along with the airport on Islay, off the west coast.

Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man and airports in Lands End and on the Isles of Scilly are expected to be closed until at least 7am as the ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano moves south and west.

Airports in the Republic of Ireland are due to begin reopening from 4am onwards after the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) lifted restrictions. A statement from Nats said: "The no-fly zone imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority continues to move south and west in line with the high density area of the volcanic ash cloud. Latest Met Office information suggests the cloud will move west overnight."

Most of the airfields listed for closure until 7am are expected to be able to open after that time but the Nats statement warned "the ash cloud is dynamic and continues to change shape and the situation may change again".

Nats expects to issue a further update at 3.30am tomorrow.