Travellers stranded as flights grounded by ash cloud

There was chaos and confusion at UK airports today as the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud wreaked yet more havoc with flight schedules.

Travellers in Scotland and Northern Ireland were left stranded by the cancellation of hundreds of services.

And there was confusion when passengers seemed uncertain as to which airports were operating flights - a problem highlighted by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond.

Airspace above Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland remained closed all day.

Glasgow was just one of a number of major airports where flights were grounded. Other airports affected included Edinburgh, Belfast International, Dublin and Derry.

There was early-morning uncertainty at Dublin airport with a number of passengers arriving for flights only to find there were no services.

And at Belfast International and Belfast City airports, where the no-fly ban was not introduced until 1pm, some passengers failed to turn up, being unaware that the airports were operating during the first part of the day.

Scottish football club Ross County had to scrap plans to fly from Glasgow to Marbella in southern Spain to train ahead of their Scottish FA Cup final against Dundee United on May 15.

Mr Salmond accused the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of releasing a "vague" statement on Tuesday night which suggested all Scottish airspace would be closed due to the return of the ash cloud.

But Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were, in fact, open for the first part of the day.

Mr Salmond said: "Unnecessarily, some flights were cancelled, particularly into Edinburgh, because of the vagueness of the press release they (the CAA) put out.

"That can't be allowed to happen again. It's really, really important, where there are difficult messages, that press statements must be clear and not cause confusion."

Mr Salmond added that the CAA had since apologised.

One of those hit by the axing of services today was Mabel McGeachie, 62, from East Kilbride, Scotland, who had her easyJet flight cancelled at Glasgow airport today.

She had been travelling to Malaga in Spain with 10 friends and relatives for her daughter's hen night and was told the next available flight was on Sunday - the day she was meant to return.

She said: "We are feeling disappointed as we were looking forward to it and I don't think we'll be able to rearrange it. It was my daughter's hen do and her wedding is in July.

"We heard about the ash last night but just came down to the airport anyway."

Ross County's director of football George Adams was philosophical about the team missing out on its Spanish trip.

He said: "We were looking forward to it but you get on with life.

"Lots of people have been disrupted with the volcanic ash and we're no different from anyone else."

Ryanair, bmi, Aer Lingus and Flybe were among the airlines that had to axe a number of services, with Flybe's cancellations including some from Manchester, Liverpool, Luton and Cardiff airport.

The CAA are expected to make a further announcement tonight and have warned that the situation remained "changeable".

The CAA said: "Passengers expecting to travel today and tomorrow from airports in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the north of England, Wales and the West Country should contact their airlines to check whether their flight is operating.

"Based on current forecasts, we do not expect airports in the South East of England to be affected."