All flights in and out of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic have been grounded since 7am today because of fresh risks from volcanic ash.

Airspace over Scotland’s Outer Hebrides was closed, affecting Tiree, Barra and Benbecula airports, with Campeltown in Argyll also closed.

Flights in and out of the Irish Republic are due to resume from 1pm today.

An ash plume is drifting south from the same Icelandic volcano that wreaked havoc to European air travel last month.

Flights over Europe were banned for six days because of fears of the effect of volcanic ash on plane engines. In the rest of the UK, schedules are operating as normal.