All but a few flights in and out of the UK will remain grounded until 1am tomorrow, in the wake of the Icelandic volcano eruption, it was announced today.

Air traffic control company Nats said the cloud of volcanic ash from the Iceland eruption continued to cover much of the UK.

But Nats did say some flights in Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow and Prestwick would continue to be allowed until 7pm today and that some transatlantic flights to and from Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast could be permitted as well.

Nats said that from 7pm today forecasts indicated Scottish airspace may be able to accept domestic flights within Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and North Atlantic flights to and from airports in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The grounding of flights has caused chaos for Shropshire passengers waiting for flights both in and out of the UK.

Birmingham International Airport was advising would-be passengers to contact their airlines to check on the latest information before travelling.

Shrewsbury man Steve Panayi and his family would have been stranded in France had it not been for the “heroic” efforts of friend David English, who drove for seven hours to collect them.

Tracy Othen, also of Shrewsbury, had been due to fly with partner Neil Stuart to Paris yesterday after booking the trip as a present for his birthday.

But shortly after they arrived at the airport at 5am yesterday they learned of the havoc the volcano had caused.

Miss Othen said: “I bought it as his birthday present so it’s a bit disappointing but it’s happened to everyone.”

The ash has also led to the grounding of the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Spokesman Chris Kowalik said: “The Midlands Air Ambulance, which involves three helicopters, based at Cosford, in Worcestershire and in Staffordshire, are all grounded until further notice and crews are responding in land ambulances.”

Describing the situation as “dynamic and subject to change”, Nats said it would be reviewing the latest weather information at around 1pm today and making a further announcement about flights at about 2.30pm.

Nats added: “We continue to work closely with airports, airlines and the rest of Europe to understand and mitigate the implications of the volcanic eruption.”

While airports in England will remain flightless and deserted until tomorrow, there was some activity in Scotland today.

An Air Transat flight from Glasgow to Toronto left at 8am and three transatlantic Thomson Airways’ flights were due to land at Glasgow.

At Glasgow, Jean and Michael McLoughlin said their daughter had left on the Air Transat flight.

The retired pair drove through the night from their home in Durham when they heard the flight may go ahead.

It was their second trip in two days. The family returned to Durham yesterday when they got to Glasgow to find the Canada flight cancelled.

Mrs McLoughlin said: “She works in Toronto and needs to get back.”

She said her daughter had made a surprise visit to Durham for her father’s retirement party.

By David Burrows