Going with the flow .

TOXIC gases, steam and fierce red embers rise and glow across a huge fissure almost four miles long.

- LUCY THORNTON

As experts cautiously declared an end to Iceland's volcanic eruption, the Mirror flew over the scorched remains of the raging inferno.

We were on board one of the first helicopters allowed over the gigantic black lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula yesterday morning.

We saw how perilously close it came to engulfing the evacuated fishing village of Grindavik and a power plant that provides heat for 30,000 people.

Our pilot, Gisli Gislason, of Reykjavik Helicopters, flew us just feet over the scorched earth and still smoking lava.

As he lifted higher we could see a brave scientist crouched alone in the middle of the lava field, collecting data.

The pilot said he would "have to run" if there was another eruption - which many experts believe will happen.

After hundreds of years of calm, the Reykjanes Peninsula awakened in 2021 and has been busy ever since.

The latest dramatic eruption in the area, which began on Monday, is the fourth but it was 100 times bigger than those that went before.

Gisli, who witnessed a previous eruption, said he was surprised to see gases emerging. He said: "We could have another one. I'm sure we will. They say we are in a period of regular eruptions.

We could have this for three decades.