Great Britain face mammoth journey to make World Championships

GREAT BRITAIN may be facing a 26 hour coach journey to reach Slovenia for the 2010 World Championships due to start on Saturday.

The team were due to fly out of Gatwick Airport on Friday morning but their flight has been thrown into doubt after the huge volcanic eruption in Iceland which has grounded air traffic across Europe.

The ash from the volcano is thought to be dangerous for planes to fly through and Great Britain's team manager Andy Buxton is now working on a contingency plan to get his side to Ljubljana.

"It wasn't the news we wanted to wake up to," said Buxton.

"We need to make a decision quickly that's for sure and we are talking at length with Adria Airways and they are being as helpful as they can.

"The problem is that the plane taking us to Maribor Airport isn't in the country and is due to fly in this afternoon and the likelihood of that now happening is remote.

"The last thing we want to do is spend 26 hours on a bus however if that's the only way we can make the first game of the tournament then we haven't got an option but to jump on the coach."

Great Britain are due to start their Division One Group B campaign against Croatia at 1300 BST on Saturday.