THE US remained shut to British air travellers last night as UK airports increased security.

The measures, with a ban on planes flying over central London, resulted in delays for thousands of passengers.

Some passengers hoping to get on flights to the US and Canada had to spend Tuesday night sleeping at Heathrow airport.

But while Manchester airport reported hold-ups of up to 90 minutes, most others said delays to flights were only a few minutes.

As well as cancelling all flights to America and Canada yesterday, British Airways suspended flights to Tel Aviv while Israeli airspace remained closed.

BA also suspended flights to Islamabad, in Pakistan, on the advice of the Foreign Office.

The shutdown of North American airports also hit Virgin Atlantic.

British Midland's transatlantic services from Manchester were also cancelled, as was US carrier Continental's Stansted to New York service.

Office staff at Stansted assisted with non-security work to ease congestion brought about by extra security measures.