A TAXI firm based in West Drayton have coined in a £1,300 fare by agreeing to drive a stranded air passenger to Barcelona.

Dave Howard, who works at LHR Express Cars , in Station Road, West Drayton, told how this morning (Monday) they agreed the record fare with an American passenger desperate to make it back to catch a connecting flight.

With airports keeping their planes grounded across the UK, because of the volcanic cloud of ash hovering across the UK and Northern Europe, travellers have been left to make alternative arrangements to reach their destinations.

Mr Howard, said: "Excluding the ferry costs, the fare came to £1,300. The passenger had been staying at the Holiday Inn in Sipson. We have already done a couple of trips to Calais at £300 each, but this one was a bit more remarkable."

He joked: "It makes a change from picking people up from Morrison's."

But those thinking the cab firm and many like them have been raking in the money from the misfortune of others are very much mistaken, as the core of their business- runs to and from the airport, has been taken away from them.

Mr Howard added: "Instead of a cab to Heathrow its become a cab to Barcelona, it certainly offsets part of the money we've lost."

How have you been affected? E-mail dancoombs@trinitysouth.co.uk