RESTRICTIONS were relaxed at Glasgow Airport today as the terror threat level was reduced from critical' to severe' across Britain.

Some taxis and buses were allowed back into the outer forecourt at the airport for the first time since the failed car bombing on Saturday.

New arrangements have also been put in place for disabled passengers.

Only licensed airport taxis, buses, vehicles run by Glasgow Taxis Ltd and NCP Flightpath buses were being allowed into the outer forecourt, while the inner section remains closed.

All vehicles were being searched before being allowed through the restriction zone, and only vehicles registered with the airport's automatic numberplate recognition system were given access.

Taxi driver Jimmy Holmes said: "Around six taxis are being allowed in and it's taking a bit of time while all vehicles are stopped. You can't refuse or you won't get in.

"We're being held in a feeder area so taxis are on site, but I imagine there will be a bit of a queue when larger flights come in."

Travellers welcomed today's move but realised there was still a need for certain restrictions.

Holidaymaker Agnes McCormick, from Glasgow, said: "We've just returned from Canada so we are coming home to all of this.

"We seem to have timed it right - we can get picked up at the outer forecourt and there doesn't seem to be too much disruption."

Travellers being dropped off by relatives or in private hire cars and other taxis still faced a short walk to the terminal.

However, most passengers felt this was a small inconvenience while security is paramount.

Rosaleen Maguire, 61, from Milton in Glasgow, was laden with bags as she made her way to check-in for a flight to New York.

Mrs Maguire said: "I was dropped off by taxi today but we were still only able to go as far as St Andrew's Drive. It's not a long walk from there and everyone seems to be quite happy under the circumstances."

Paula and Jean Skillon, from Glasgow, were travelling with a young family.

Paula said: "It really isn't a problem to walk that extra distance as it seems the right thing to do."

Airport managing director Gordon Dewar said today's move took them a step closer to resuming normal service.

He said: "With flights operating normally and the outer forecourt now in operation, our next challenge will be to repair the damage to the terminal entrance - and we're confident we can do that within days."

The national terror threat level was reduced from critical' to severe' by the Joint Terrorism and Analysis Centre as police continue to investigate the failed attacks in London and Glasgow.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who announced the reduction, said there was "no intelligence" to indicate terrorists were about to strike again - but told the public to stay alert.

"There remains a serious and real threat against the UK," she added.

A severe' threat level means an attack is highly likely, while critical' indicates an attack is expected imminently.

The reduction came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a review of how NHS doctors are recruited from overseas, which will be led by new Terrorist Minister Lord West.

It follows the revelation that the eight suspects being held over the failed car bombings all have links to the NHS as doctors or trainee doctors.

Mr Brown made the announcement during his first Prime Minister's Questions yesterday as he pledged the Government would take new steps to counter terrorism.

These will include the expansion worldwide of a "watch list" of potential terrorists to help warn other countries and new agreements between nations to ensure a co-ordinated response to the terrorist threat.

Detectives are still questioning six suspects at Paddington Green police station in London.

A doctor is being quizzed by police in Australia, while the eighth suspect remains in a critical condition in hospital in Paisley with severe burns.

The NHS has been left reeling by the details of an apparent terror cell in the health service.

Among those being held is Dr Sabeel Ahmed, 26, who was arrested in Liverpool on Saturday.

It emerged today he is a relative and childhood friend of Dr Mohammed Haneef, 27, who studied at the same university and is being held in Brisbane, Australia.

A British counter-terrorism expert arrived in Brisbane today to question Dr Haneef.

Officers are trying to piece together the details of the attempted car bombings.

One line of inquiry is that the two men involved in the Glasgow Airport attack also left the two bomb-rigged Mercedes cars in London.

Neighbours reported spotting a Mercedes, as well as several other cars, outside a rented home in Houston, Renfrewshire, where the men lived.

Mobile phones left in the two Mercedes are believed to have proved vital in tracking down the men and the other suspects so quickly.

The phones are understood to have been intended to act as remote detonators - but the plan did not work.

It's been revealed that some of the eight suspects were known to MI5 through links with other suspected terrorists who were under surveillance.

Scotland Yard refused to comment on a report last night by American TV news network CNN that police had found a suicide note written by one of the Glasgow Airport attackers.

According to a CNN source, the letter indicated the two suspects intended to detonate an explosive device in the Jeep Cherokee while still inside the vehicle.

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