SCHOOL pupils have returned home after witnessing the disruption of the Icelandic volcano first hand.

More than 30 geography pupils from Thurstable School, in Tiptree, arrived back at Stansted on Saturday, having been in Iceland when the volcano erupted last week.

The GCSE and A-level pupils travelled to the country last Monday on a field trip to study the glaciers, waterfalls and volcanoes in the Eyjafjallajoekull area.

But on only their second night in Iceland the volcano erupted, sending its plume of ash into the air and causing choas at airports across Europe.

Hilary Graham, assistant headteacher at Thurstable school, co-ordinated the return journey.

She said: “It was a geography class studying volcanoes and things like that, and the trip was organised months ago.

“It is all just a big coincidence the volcano erupted while they were out there.”

The group had originally been due to fly back to Stansted at about 9pm on Friday, but the ban on flights in UK airspace made their return uncertain.

Fortunately, the group was able to get a specially arranged flight into Glasgow, and then travelled by coach back to Essex.

After hours on the road, they arrived back at Stansted airport at about 8am on Saturday, where they were met by their relieved families.

Ms Graham added: “I think the students were disappointed, as they wanted to spend another night in Iceland. They were having a great time.

“I think the teachers are relieved to have a couple of days to recover before school.

“This will certainly be a trip to talk about for a long time to come.”

Schools across the region are expected to have absences when they return today and tomorrow, as families struggle to get home to the UK after the Easter break.