A SCHOOL is having to pay a whopping £3,000-a-day for 30 of its pupils stranded in America by the volcanic ash chaos.

The group from Salendine Nook High were visiting Disney’s All Star Music resort in Florida when they found themselves unable to jet back home.

The school is having to stump up the staggering cost to keep the group out there in a hotel.

But senior staff now face an even tougher dilemma as they face the prospect of ending up stranded in another American city.

An airline company says they must move to Houston tomorrow – but they are resisting as they don’t know what faces them there and they could end up stuck.

While the extra food and accommodation is costing the school £3,000 a day – money it has not budgeted for – the school cannot risk the airline offer which could leave the pupils stuck in an airport for days.

But declining tomorrow’s transfer to Houston puts their future insurance claim at risk.

Associate headteacher Andrew Foster said: “Continental Airlines still want to offer us a transfer on Thursday to travel to get a flight from Houston on Sunday.

“We’re concerned as we have no accommodation in Houston and at the moment the children are in Disneyland and they are providing free tickets to rides and are looking after them well.

“We are the only school in Kirklees caught up in this.

“If Continental says we have to get this transfer the problem in not doing so could invalidate our insurance.”

The school is now caught in a Catch 22 – take the flight offer which could see pupils stuck in Houston or stay put in the relative comfort of a Disney hotel while putting their insurance claim at risk.

Mr Foster added: “They told us to fly on Saturday knowing there were no flights and we had to say we weren’t going.

“We contacted the emergency numbers they provided but there was no answer. We’re not very happy with it.

“If we are not guaranteed some accommodation in Houston and at least some resources to entertain the pupils I will instruct them to stay in Florida.

“We do run the risk of losing our insurance claim but I know for a fact that they would be stranded in Houston if the accommodation was not provided.”

He added: “The parents are in contact with the school staff and their children.

“We provided $10 phonecards and the parents can contact the hotel and be put through to the children’s rooms.

“To be honest there’s been a few tears. Some have got birthdays coming up and we all know that it will be Sunday at the earliest.”

The school confirmed a number of staff are also stranded abroad following their own Easter holidays.

At the time of going to press Continental Airlines had not provided a comment.