Volcano ash drifts,250 UK flights cancelled

Conflicts continued over how to apply safety rules for flying in ash,with Germany taking a tougher stance and budget airline Ryanair showing defiance by flying a plane into an ash zone to show it was safe to do so. Among travellers affected were US President Barack Obama,who left Ireland for Britain late on Monday ahead of schedule. European air traffic agency Eurocontrol said 250 flights had been cancelled in British airspace,mainly in and out of Scotland,but officials said conditions were set to ease.

“At the moment we think Glasgow and Edinburgh will be affected throughout this afternoon but should be returning to normal Wednesday morning,” British Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told BBC TV. Both Britain and Ireland ruled out closing their airspace on Tuesday,though Ireland stopped Ryanair flying to Scottish airports during the morning.