Air passengers around Europe were in limbo for a fourth day today as the UK remained a virtual no-fly zone because of safety fears sparked by the Icelandic volcano eruption.

Airports were deserted and passengers, including many from Shropshire and Mid Wales, have been stranded.

An Easter break in the sunshine with family has turned into a waiting game for Shropshire Star Women’s Editor Tracey O’Sullivan.

Due to return on a Ryanair flight from Malaga tonight to Birmingham they are now facing a delay until at least Monday lunchtime before getting confirmation on when they might get back to Britain.

“It’s the unknown which is particularly difficult with the situation changing by the hour,” she said.

“The situation has escalated significantly so I suppose you can’t help worrying that even Monday could be optimistic and we know that clearing the backlog of passengers trying to get home is going to be a mammoth task which could take days.”

Another of those caught up in the travel chaos was the Duchess of Cornwall.

She had to cancel a visit to a Polish cultural centre in London, where she was to sign a book of condolence for the late president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, because she was unable to fly from Scotland.

English airports were mostly deserted but small knots of passengers unaware of the blanket ban turned up to find empty check-in desks and no flights. Travellers unable to fly looked for alternative modes of transport.

Channel Tunnel high-speed train company Eurostar reported that its 58 services were full on Friday. Taxi firms have reportedly taken stranded business people from Belfast to London for a £700 fare.

By Tom Johannsen