Volcanic ash left Worthing people struggling to get home

In Worthing and Lancing, the majority of schools have had several pupils and staff stranded abroad.

There have been more than 132 pupils and 52 staff stuck in various holiday destinations since the plume of ash began to move over the UK on Thursday, April 15.

Despite the drop in numbers, all schools were able to continue as normal without lessons being disrupted.

Volunteers stuck

Goring-based Projects Abroad, an international volunteer organisation, has 45 people stuck in 24 different destinations across the world - some are the poorest countries in the world.

Bath Travel in Goring Road had 12 customers stranded. Manager Matt Whiting said: "Fortunately, we have had less people stranded than we might have expected but we have been very busy with people phoning to find out their situation.

"Our last-minute booking takings have obviously been affected with people not making late bookings because they just don't know if planes are going to take off or not."

Meanwhile, numerous holiday-makers from Worthing are still stranded abroad despite British airspace being re-opened on Tuesday, April 20.

Stranded abroad

Stephanie Gubbins, 23, of Trent Road, Goring, is stuck in Tenerife. She was due to fly back to Gatwick on Friday, April 16.

She said: "Easyjet has actually been really good. They have put us up in a four-star hotel and provided food for free.

"At first I thought it was great to have an extra week of holiday, however, it is stressful not knowing when we will definitely be coming home, or where we will be flying to."

Football club

Worthing businesswoman Kay Philips, who works in Chapel Road, was stranded in Barcelona with 38 other people representing a youth football team.

She said: "It's an absolute nightmare. Thousands of people are stranded and we don't know when the end is in sight. It's just chaos"

The team travelled through Spain and France by coach and made it home last night (Thursday, April 23)

Dan Thompson's 14-year-old step-daughter Dayna Richman is stranded in Crete visiting family.

Checking in

Dan, of Lanfranc Road, said: "She was very unlucky as she was literally just checking-in at the airport to come home when the skies were closed."

Buddhist monk Pema Dorjee, who was due to visit Davison High School in his capacity as a senior member of the Tibetan Community in exile.

He remained in Delhi and fellow Tibetan monk Lobdan Chokta took his place.

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