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Airlines are on high alert after geologists warned that an Icelandic volcano may be close to erupting.
Officials issued a ‘code orange’ to travel firms after intense seismic activity at the Bardarbunga volcano in the island’s centre.
It is the second highest level of risk, signalling ‘heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption’, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The alert will raise fears of a repeat of the chaos seen when Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010.
A dust cloud shut down much of Europe’s airspace for six days, affecting more than ten million people and costing £1.1billion. Passengers were stranded as 100,000 flights were cancelled during the Easter holidays.

With many British families currently abroad for the school summer break, an eruption now could cause similar disruption.
Since 2010 many insurers have added clauses to their travel policies excluding cover for volcanic ash clouds.
While airlines are legally required to cover cancelled flights inside the EU, extra costs such as extended hotel stays may not be included. British forecasters are particularly concerned by the risk because winds are currently blowing in from Iceland, meaning any eruption is likely to affect airports in the UK. Laura Young, of the Met Office, said last night: ‘There is a north-westerly airflow at the moment and it looks like it will stay that way until Sunday or Monday.

Read more:  Daily Mail