A cruise ship carrying 1,700 passengers left stranded as a result of a volcano erupting in Iceland is due to arrive in Falmouth this evening.

The Island Cruises ship Island Escape has been on a mercy mission, rescuing holidaymakers unable to get home due to their flights being cancelled because of the cloud of volcano ash high above Europe making flying dangerous.

The cruise liner was called in to action on Monday, once the extent of the flight restrictions were realised.

Island Cruises and sister company Thomson worked around the clock to re-route itineraries in order to aid repatriation efforts.

Onboard the ship are a number of passengers who were unable to fly back to the UK after their cruise, plus 300 non-cruise Thomson and First Choice customers who were collected in Funchal, Madeira en-route.

The ship is due to enter Falmouth waters this evening before docking tomorrow morning.

Yesterday the holiday company confirmed the “vast majority” of customers waiting to return to the UK would do so by tomorrow, Friday. The majority of outbound flights are due to begin again today.