The BBC's Malcolm Brabant: "Despite the tragedy being commemmorated, a sense of optimism shone through"

The Soufriere Hills volcano began erupting in the Caribbean island in 1995. Last summer, 23 people were killed in the most violent eruption of the past three years.

Communities were wiped out

Molten rock flowing at more than 300 kilometres an hour made two-thirds of the island uninhabitable.

After the eruption, more than two-thirds of the islanders left the British overseas territory.

Strained relations

Though Britain offered each resident who decided to flee the island £2,500, aid for those who stayed was less certain and slower to arrive.

Around 3,500 residents who refused to leave their homes felt let down by the way the aid operation for the island was handled.

A casualty of the eruption

Remarks by the UK's International Development Secretary, Clare Short, that the island's inhabitants would be "wanting golden elephants next", also did not help matters.

In the end, Britain's total commitment to the island was around $80m.

Montserrat's Chief Minister David Brandt accused Britain of abandoning its responsibility of the island. Dissatisfied, he pressed for a full judicial inquiry into the way Britain had responded to the crisis.

A report by a parliamentary committee last year criticised both the British and Monterratian authorities for their handling of the volcano crisis.

It said the British Government did not adequately help the thousands of Montserratians who left. But it added that the island's authorities failed to prepare for the eruptions, which had been predicted.

'Optimism within tragedy'

The people of Montserrat remembered the island's blackest day at a memorial service for those who died twelve months ago.

However, the BBC correspondent on Montserrat Malcolm Brabant said that, despite the tragedy being commemorated, a sense of optimism prevailed.

Scientists say the volcano is calming down

Scientists at Montserrat's Volcano Observatory believe the volcano is calming down. They say there has been no major activity since March.

Our correspondent says a scientific conference which is being held on the island in two weeks could signal the start of a return home for some people.

"It is expected to conclude that the volcano is quiet enough to allow people to return to the central danger zone, which is currently sealed off," he said.

"That should help to ease the accommodation crisis as 500 people are still living in shelters, but there is still not enough housing stock on the island, and the last thing the authorities want is a mass return of refugees."