Ash cloud leaves UK but closes in on Europe

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in the UK, leaving many stranded and creating chaos at airports in Scotland and northern England.

But now those travelling to and from Europe face further chaos, as the cloud begins to blow over northern countries.

German air traffic control said it will close Bremen and Hamburg airports from 5am and 6am, and warned that Berlin could face similar restrictions.

Ryanair issued a warning to customers awaiting flights from Germany that their travel may be disrupted.

They have cancelled all flights to and from Bremen, Lubeck and Magdeburg airports until 2pm local German time.

EasyJet are urging passengers traveling from either Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Amsterdam, Dortmund, Berlin, Copenhagen or Hamburg to check before leaving for the airport.

British Airways has conducted a test flight, which will produce data to determine the extent of the ash cloud.

Data from the flight was being analysed overnight by experts.

The UK’s Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the volcanic ash plume was getting smaller and less intense.

He added that south-westerly winds were likely to take the ash away from the UK and that he was "cautiously optimistic" that disruption would be kept to a minimum from now on.

However, the ash could return to the UK again on Friday.

A Met Office forecaster has said charts are showing "quite high concentration of ash" across at 35-55,000ft for the end of the week.

On Tuesday, flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh International airports, as well as Dundee, were cancelled, with severe disruptions hitting other Scottish airports.

In England, Newcastle International was worst-hit.

A row also broke out between Irish airline Ryanair and the Civil Aviation Authority, after the airline's boss claimed there was "no volcanic ash" in Scottish airspace, and vowed to continue operating.

They sent a test flight into the "high ash concentration zone" and travelled from Glasgow Prestwick to Inverness, on to Aberdeen and down to Edinburgh.

An inspection of the aircraft afterwards found "no evidence of volcanic ash on the airframe, wings or engines", the company said.

"It's perfectly safe. There is nothing up there," airline boss Michael O'Leary said.

He hit out at both the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - accusing them of incompetence.

However the airline was forced into an embarrassing U-turn just hours later, after the Irish Aviation Authority directed the airline to cancel all Scottish flights.

A statement from the airline said: "Despite Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh Airports being outside the 'red zone' on the most recent UK Met Office charts, the UK Civil Authority have decided that these charts are wrong and have closed the airspace."