A LOVECLOUGH businessman is finally heading home after the Icelandic volcanic dust cloud left him stranded on the edge of the Arctic Circle.

Ian Brindle, 51, had been staying at a hotel made completely out of ice in northern Sweden at an industry gathering with audio conferencing manufacturer Konftel. He was due to fly 1,000 miles back to the UK last Sunday.

Ian and colleague Simon Hughes have embarked on a mammoth journey home via coach, rail, car and sea. On Wednesday morning they were en-route to Hamburg by train heading to Rotterdam and then Zeebrugge.

Ironically they say the international travel chaos has had a major positive impact on sales demand back in the UK as business meetings at home and abroad have been unable to take place face-to-face.

Ian, head of conferencing sales for Manchester-based telecoms distributor Nimans, said: “We were due to fly home on Sunday and cannot wait to return to the UK hopefully by the end of the week.

“It’s become a marathon journey.

“While the volcanic ash has brought misery for many, including ourselves, it has given our conferencing sales a warm glow which we expect to continue throughout the year as more businesses recognise the viable alternatives to traditional travel.”