London, England - Air travellers are to remain on tierra firma for one more day, as flights across the UK are grounded as volcanic ash from Iceland drifts across Europe.

Air traffic control body NATS has extended its restrictions on UK airspace until at least 0100BST/0000GMT 17 April (1900 Eastern standard time 16 April). Only a minute amount of flights will be allowed in and out of Northern Ireland, western Scotland and south-west England due to small breaks in the clouds.

Of the 28,000 flights due to use European airspace on Thursday, 8,000 were cancelled that number is expected to rise to 17,000 today (Friday 16 April)

Rail, ferry and Eurostar services have reported huge increases in bookings as passengers find alternate ways of getting to their destinations.