A GENERAL election challenger to David Cameron is one of many Oxfordshire residents stranded abroad because of the air travel lockdown.

Independent candidate Paul Wesson, of Brome Way, Carterton, who has been working in Sudan since March 1, was due to fly home yesterday.

The 52-year-old is one of thousands of Britons stranded abroad because the volcanic ash cloud being blown south from erupting Mount Eyjafjallajokull has grounded planes across Europe.

The former town and district councillor is planning to stand as an Independent candidate in Witney, against Tory leader David Cameron, but last night it was uncertain whether his election nomination would even be received in time.

Speaking from his hotel room in Khartoum, Mr Wesson said: “I’m worried it will affect my campaign as I’d allowed a specific amount of time to do things.

“My employers are trying to sort something out, but until Heathrow is reopened nobody really knows what is happening.”

The sponsors of tomorrow’s OX5 run at Blenheim were last night stranded in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Rob and Kate Allen, of Allen Associates, had been due to fly back from Marrakech yesterday. Mr Allen said of the run: “We weren’t just sponsoring it, we were planning to run it.

“We have been training for six weeks – then we found out that the Icelandic volcano has put the kibosh on our plans.”

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance was grounded for a second day yesterday, with the crew on standby at RAF Benson in cars.

Some flights were also cancelled from Oxford Airport, although on Thursday a group of scientists was able to fly from the airport to collect samples of dust from the giant plume to determine its speed and direction.

David Surley, Oxford Airport’s head of customer service, said: “Some low level flying is permitted, but the majority of flights have been cancelled.”

Meanwhile, some local travel agents were having to foot the bill for additional accommodation for stranded customers.

Nikki Davies, a spokesman for Trailfinders, in St Aldate’s, Oxford said it was postponing trips for seven to 10 days, adding: “With our package holidays, accommodation is being paid by us.”

Kidlington-based travel agent Lisa McDonald, who works for Travel Counsellors, added: “Most airlines have policies where you can change tickets or get a refund but accomodation suppliers are under no obligation to refund customers. That has been the main problem.”

Are you or a loved one affected by the volcano disruption? Call us on 01865 425500.