A BARROW man has been caught up in the chaotic aftermath of a volcano eruption in the Philippines, potentially preventing his return journey to the UK.

Al Edmondson was in Dasmariñas  visiting his wife and daughter when a level four warning - signalling that an eruption is imminent - was issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, after ash was shot up nine miles into the sky.

The ash eruption from the Taal volcano - 45 miles south of the Philippines capital, Manila - has prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the country and the cancellation of flights, along with warnings of a possible explosive eruption and volcanic tsunami.

Mr Edmondson said he feared his return flight on January 20 may be one of those cancelled or impacted by the eruption.

He said: “I’ve been here since November 21 for Christmas and for my wedding anniversary which was on Friday.

“I need to find the cash to get home when my visa expires in 30 days.”

This is not the first time Mr Edmondson has faced lengthy delays in returning from the Philippines as a result of the country’s volcanic activity.

“I had a similar experience 18 months ago when the Mayon volcano erupted for 21 days,” he said.

Mr Edmondson is currently near Dasmariñas in the Cavite region of the Philippines, some 30 miles from the ‘danger zone’ around the volcano.

He said he was in a nearby restaurant when he first learnt of the news that Taal had erupted.

“A friend eating with me got the text that there had been an eruption at Taal," he said.

“My wife turned up shortly after, since she couldn’t contact me on my mobile phone. She was intrigued by my relatively calm reaction to the eruption warnings. Some of the other expats here seem more worried.

“Smelling the sulphur in the air, seeing the ash fall - that’s all been a bit of a shock to the system. I’m still calm. But when it goes bang, that’s another story.”

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

One of the world's smallest volcanoes, Taal is among two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies along the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.