A teacher stranded more than 1,000 miles away in Marrakech is embarking on an epic journey to try and get back to his classroom.

Stephen Paddock is one of hundreds of teachers left stranded abroad by the cloud of volcanic ash over the UK preventing flights into and out of the country.

Flights were grounded at midday last Thursday after pilots were warned the ash cloud could cause the engines to shut down.

Mr Paddock is one of 13 teachers unable to start the school term at Woodcote High School in Coulsdon, some are on holiday as far away as South Africa, Australia and Canada.

Headteacher Mark Southworth said Mr Paddock was making a heroic effort to get back to his classroom as soon as possible.

He said: “Stephen called this morning, he is making his way from Marrakech to Tangier where he is hoping to get a ferry to Gibraltar and then make his way back here by train through Spain.”

In the mean time he has had to bring some ex-staff members back to the school to help cope with the teaching load and is taking on a few classes himself.

“We have managed to cope for today. I have pulled a few favours from people who used to work for us who have come back. I have brought one member of staff back from maternity leave.”

He said with GCSE and A level exams looming for students in just four weeks time, he was trying to make sure the best teachers were taking those classes.

Air traffic control today extended flight restrictions over the UK to 1am tomorrow morning.

Other schools across Croydon have had to draft in supply teachers to deal with the demand. Most headteachers said they were coping for today with supply teachers filling in the gaps but were concerned about what they would do if flights were suspended for much longer.

Norbury Business School have 21staff off, Edenham High are missing 20 teachers and Archbishop Lanfranc have 15 teachers stranded abroad. Riddlesdown have 12 and Addington High School have 8 teachers absent while Archbishop Tennison have 7 teachers absent.

It is estimated that more than 150,000 Britons are stranded abroad. Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced today he is drafting in three Royal Navy ships to help those unable to get home from the continent.

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