The president of Iceland has warned that the disruption caused by the volcano eruption could be the “beginning of an experience which will be repeated through the 21st century”.

Olafur Grimsson described the trouble caused by the eruption of Mount Eyjafjallajökull as “a small rehearsal of what will happen when Katla erupts”.

Katla is another volcano eight miles away which is larger and produces more magma.

Grimsson added: “There are forces of nature at work in Iceland which can create a long period of extraordinary damage to modern advanced society.

“It is time for European governments and airline authorities to start planning for that – I am sorry to say so but that is the reality.

“Everyone should realise we cannot do anything about these forces of nature.

“We have to adjust ourselves to them, and remain calm as scientific evidence points towards larger eruptions in the near future and we need to start planning for that eventuality.”