Villagers returned to their homes today along the fertile slopes of an Indonesian volcano that spewed hot ash and smoke after lying dormant for more than four centuries – catching scientists off guard.

NOT only did Turner paint wonderful sunsets, but apparently they have helped to track important changes in our climate.

Volcanic ash from the eruption in Iceland could take between 24 and 36 hours to drift across the UK – if there is no more volcanic activity, weather forecasters said today.

US scientists have found what they believe are traces of the lost Indonesian civilisation of Tambora, which was wiped out in 1815 by the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history.