SCORES of Ayrshire people have been left stranded abroad thanks to the grounded flights.

Including young couple Isla Thomson, from Troon, and Brian Milligan, from Crosshill, who are enjoying more time in Abu Dhabi.

Isla, 22, and 25-year-old Brian were originally on a 10-day trip to take in UFC 112 and visit Isla’s aunt, former Ballantrae resident Sheena Thomson.

They were due to fly home on Monday but are making the most of the uncertain extension.

Beauty therapist Isla said: “I have never been stranded before, it feels quite surreal, but we just have to make the most of it and we are lucky we have somewhere nice to stay.

Health and fitness manager Brian added: “There is nothing you can do about it. We just have to sit it out.”

Neville McCrindle couldn’t believe it when he heard his Ryanair flight from Heviz in Hungary was cancelled.

It’s not the first time the oil rig manager has been stranded thanks to erupting volcanoes.

In 1995, volcanic ash from Mount Ruatehu in New Zealand grounded all flights.

That left Neville stuck down under.

But the Maidens man refuses to be beaten.

Neville, 52, explained: “I got talking to a man who is stranded here with his daughter. So along with another man we are hiring a car and driving through the night to Calais to get the ferry back to the UK.

“Then I’m getting dropped off at Peterborough and getting the train to Prestwick, where my car is parked.”

Ramona Rogers was due back at Gardenrose primary school on Monday morning in her role as a nursery nurse.

Instead, she celebrated her 52nd birthday with an extended holiday in Gran Canaria.

And she doesn’t expect to be back home in Girvan until May at the earliest.

Ramona explained: “We’re rescheduled on a Ryanair flight to Prestwick next Tuesday, April 27. But there is such a massive back log of people that I just can’t see it.”

Ramona and her husband John, a paramedic, are able to make the most of their extended holiday but she says not everyone is as fortunate.

Ramona said: “Our insurance company have been great. We’re getting £40 each per day. Although we’ve had to stick it on our Visa at the moment, we know we’ll get the money back.

“But we’ve heard some real horror stories from people.

“One woman is heavily pregnant with her fourth child. Her other three children are at home and she and her husband came over for a short break before the baby arrives. But they are panicking now.

“There are lots of desperate people here. The situation is dire.”