Iceland volcano: Air passenger rights

The eruption has led to some disruption with the picture changing regularly

The latest volcanic eruption in Iceland has caused a number of flight cancellations with the threat of further disruption if the ash cloud spreads into the UK and, possibly, other parts of Europe.

So what the rights of those passengers who may be forced to cancel holidays?

What are my basic rights?

What happens if I am stranded and trying to get home?

Does the airline look after me if I have two single tickets?

How long is this expected to last, and what about insurance?

We suffered ash cloud disruption last year, how were passengers treated?

What happens if I cannot get back to work because of disruption?