Heathrow and Gatwick Shut by Ash

Britain's two busiest airports have closed as a volcanic ash cloud drifts further south, threatening major disruption to many thousands of people, reports BBC News.

Flights are also grounded in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Bradford airports have re-opened after restrictions in the north were lifted.

The closure of Heathrow and Gatwick airports at the beginning of the working week is expected to hit business travellers and holidaymakers hardest. However, Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control, said some flights might be resumed at both airports after 0700 BST.

Travellers are being advised to check with their airline before leaving home. Prestwick Airport is no longer in the no-fly zone, but a spokeswoman said it would not be receiving any flights until lunchtime.

According to air traffic authority Nats, other airports closed through the night include Farnborough, Shoreham, Biggin Hill, all airfields in Northern Ireland, Scottish Western Isles, Oban, Campbeltown, Caernarfon and Aberdeen.

Flights in and out of Dublin, in the Irish Republic, are also grounded until at least noon.

There are signs that the ash cloud is passing over the UK, as Dutch TV reported airports in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are to close for at least eight hours from 0500 BST (0600 local time). The Department of Transport has warned restrictions are likely across different parts of the UK until at least Tuesday.

The latest dense patch of ash has already disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people, mainly in northern parts of the UK. Airspace over Northern Ireland was first to close on Saturday, then as the cloud moved south, Manchester closed at lunchtime on Sunday, with Birmingham following suit by teatime.

British Airways said airlines should be able to decide whether it was safe to fly, as the current approach was "overly restrictive."
Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has led to thousands of flights being delayed or cancelled since April.