Travel plans reduced to ashes

Passengers left stranded at airports when flights were grounded will be hoping to find out whether they can fly.

Some have already scrambled to leave the country by ferry or Eurostar, and train operators have put on extra services.

Twenty-two children from North Yorkshire on a school trip were told to stay in Spain because aviation authorities decided airborne ash from Iceland's Mount Eyjafjalljokull volcano made it too dangerous for

planes flying in British airspace.

The year eight pupils, all aged 12 or 13, from Rossett High School, in Harrogate, were due to fly from Barcelona to Manchester yesterday afternoon after taking part sport events.

Another school party, from Leicestershire, also face a delayed return to the UK after their stay in Iceland was interrupted by the eruption.

Thirty-four girls, aged 14 and 15, and seven staff from Loughborough High School had to leave their accommodation and move to a nearby school.

Flights were cancelled at Yorkshire's three international airports – Leeds Bradford, Robin Hood and Humberside – on the advice of aviation experts and weather forecasters.

Audrey del Buono Hair, from Durham, was due to fly from Leeds Bradford to Pisa for a one-month stay in Italy and said: "I've been greatly affected because the next available flight is on Saturday at 9.10am, so that's two days to kill. It's not worth my while going home to come back again, so I'm having to stay in a Travelodge for two nights then come back and hope I depart on Saturday morning.

"I'm not happy with the information because it was all hearsay – no-one came to officially tell us for quite some time."

British travellers abroad have sought hotel rooms or are bunking down on benches.

Yorkshire couple Debbie and Peter Johnson, returning to Leeds after visiting relatives in Perth, Western Australia, were among those caught up in delays at Singapore's Changi Aiport.

Mr Johnson said: "At first there was little hard information about what was happening, but it gradually became obvious no one way going

anywhere so people simply found ways of making do.

"At this stage no one knows when any of the grounded flights will leave for Heathrow, everyone is just keeping their fingers crossed."

Dot and Norman Taylor, from Middlesbrough, had been due to travel to Lanzarote, but they decided to go home yesterday and return to the airport today.

Yorkshire airline Jet2.com has added four flights to today's schedule to help stranded passengers at Leeds Bradford.

The extra flights are scheduled to serve Malaga, Murcia, Alicante and Lanzarote, if the all-clear is given for flights.

Leeds Bradford's commercial and aviation director Tony Hallwood said an "army of staff" had been on hand to help inconvenienced travellers.

"Most passengers have been very understanding and patient," he added, "and we appreciate that, given the exceptional circumstances."

Robin Hood airport director Mike Morton said some air crew had been stranded by the alert, but staff would be ready to get passengers on their way as soon as the restrictions were lifted.

"I have got to say a big thank you to passengers because they have been great," he said. "We have been very open with them and those who have got through to the departure lounge are being looked after.

"We are hoping that the situation will get back to normal as soon as possible because on Monday we start services with our new operator easyJet."

Rail operator East Coast brought in an additional train to provide more services between Yorkshire, London and Scotland, while rival company Virgin Trains put on extra West Coast services.