The eruption of a volcano in Iceland strengthened on Monday and sent a new ash cloud towards Britain, air authorities said, creating uncertainty about the reopening of airspace.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which manages British airspace, said the situation was worsening and it was now in doubt that all areas they wanted to make available to flights from Tuesday would be opened.

"The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK," said the air traffic controllers.

"Latest information from the Met Office (weather forecasting service) shows that the situation is worsening in some areas," said NATS in a statement.

The air traffic control service had announced earlier that it would begin lifting a flight ban early Tuesday, which was imposed last week.

But the new NATS bulletin said that "the situation for Northern Irish airports for (Tuesday) morning is uncertain, due to the new ash cloud."

But Scottish airports should still be available from 7:00 am (0600 GMT) Tuesday, in line with the earlier announcement, it added.

More airspace over England might become available from 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) although not as far south as the main London airports, said NATS.

The air chiefs warned however that "the situation is likely to change overnight".

The latest development showed "the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working," said the air authority, announcing a fresh statement for 3:00 am (0200 GMT) Tuesday.

The air traffic control service imposed the flight ban at midday (1100 GMT) Thursday and has extended it several times, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded abroad.

British Airways had said it hoped to resume flights into and out of London, in the southeast of England, from 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) Tuesday. But after the latest NATS update, BA said it was "reviewing" its schedule.

A meeting of the British government's emergency planning committee, Cobra, chaired by Prime Minister Gordon Brown was held late Monday to discuss the latest updates on the ash cloud, a spokesman said.

Brown announced earlier that navy ships were being sent to help Britons stranded abroad.

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