Flights have been disrupted across northern Europe by volcanic ash drifting south and east from Iceland, BBC reports.

Airspace was closed or flights cancelled in countries including the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The ash, which can damage aeroplane engines, was produced by a volcanic eruption under a glacier in Iceland.

Flooding was reported as the glacier melted, and up to 800 people were evacuated from the area on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses and local officials said there were two flows of flood water coming off the glacier in south-western Iceland, and that a road along the flooded Markarfljot river had been cut in several places.

By Thursday morning, the disruption to air traffic stretched from the UK to Scandinavia.