WEYMOUTH College students who were due to visit Olympic venues in China have had their trip delayed after their flight was grounded.

The party of seven was due to fly from Heathrow to Beijing on Saturday to visit the capital city’s Olympic venues and the sailing venue in Qingdao.

Their trip is now set to take place in June.

The students are among hundreds of travellers whose plans were ruined after an Icelandic volcano erupted and covered British airspace with ash.

The stranded students are Lewis Bartlett, 16, Kieran Bosomworth, 16, Leanne Odette Mills, 17, Maria Lochrie, 17, and Lilly Markwell, 16 – all from Weymouth and Nicholas Dyer, 16 and Jamie Richards, 17, both from Portland.

The pupils were due to put questions, composed with the help of students from schools in Weymouth and Portland, to Chinese students and Olympic volunteers about the effects of hosting the 2008 games.

Weymouth College’s deputy principal Paul Lonsdale said the students were trying to treat the delay as positively as possible.

He said: “It’s a shame but there’s nothing that can be done about it.”

A MUM spoke of her fears for her twin daughters stranded abroad by the volcanic ash crisis.

Lucy and Emily Martin are stuck in a hotel outside Barcelona after their flight home was cancelled.

The sisters, who are studying A-levels at the Beaminster/Sir John Colfox sixth form, were enjoying a mini-break in the Spanish City to celebrate their 18th birthdays.

Mum Fenella Martin, speaking at the family home in West Bexington, said that although they were provisionally booked on an alternative flight for today there is no way of knowing whether they will make it back.

She said: “Luckily they are being put up in a hotel but they are having to pay for their own food and the money was running out. I have managed to get some sent out to them but the real issue is getting them back to school and ensuring they are safe.

“They are studying for their A-levels and can’t really afford to miss any time.

“I am also worried for them as they are on their own and don’t know anybody out there. They have made a few new friends in the hostel they were staying at in Barcelona and they are managing to travel in to see them just for company and something to do.

“It is really frustrating not knowing when flights may resume. They flew with Easyjet but the company’s helpline hasn’t been working which just adds to the frustration.

“They are keeping each other’s spirits up but they just want to get back.”