[Wings of Fire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8621407.stm

All flights in and out of the UK have been suspended as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moves south.

Safety body Eurocontrol said up to 4,000 flights across northern Europe would be cancelled on Thursday.

The Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in or out of UK airspace until 1800BST amid fears of engine damage.

The airspace restriction was the most significant in living memory, a spokesman said.

Nats suggested that the restrictions were unlikely to be lifted after 1800, saying it was "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future".

Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark were among the European countries hit.

The restrictions were imposed after the Met Office warned the ash was sufficient to clog engines.

Passengers were advised to contact their carriers prior to travel.

Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud would be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.

But the Health Protection Agency said the ash did not pose a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude.

These are some of the main knock-on effects:

* Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports shut
* Disruptions to and from Liverpool's John Lennon, Manchester and Newcastle airports
* Severe delays at Birmingham airport with problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff International and Bristol airports
* London's Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports hit
* British Airways cancels all domestic flights on Thursday and offers refunds or an option to rebook
* Flights suspended at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport
* RAF Sea King helicopter flies a critically ill patient from Scotland to London
* Ash threat forces Great North Air Ambulance to be grounded

Funfunfun.