'150,000 Britons' stranded abroad

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With hundreds of thousands Britons stranded abroad by the restrictions on flights in and out of the UK, a flood of travel insurance claims is expected in the ensuing weeks.

Travel association Abta made a rough estimate that 150,000 Britons were unable to return home, as volcanic ash cloud remained over the country's air space.

The crisis is causing the biggest operational issue the industry had faced in living memory, an Abta spokeswoman said.

"At no time in living memory has British airspace been shut down and affected this many people," she said.

"There are lots of other people who are still on holiday," she said, adding it had been estimated that around two million Britons were going abroad in Easter week.

She said Abta is working with its members in the travel industry to help them provide customers with up to date information and to explain their responsibilities during the unusual situation.

The Foreign Office is also working with the travel industry and was "co-ordinating closely with EU partners, many of whom have also been affected", a spokesman said.

A statement said consular staff overseas were providing assistance including visiting airports, working with the local authorities to resolve visa problems and advising British nationals who have run out of funds.

The Foreign Office has launched a special advice line for callers in the UK who are concerned about the well-being of relatives stranded overseas. The number is 020 7008 0000.

Its website is also being updated regularly with information and advice about passengers' rights and the responsibilities of travel companies.

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