More than 16,000 pairs of solar eclipse glasses sold in crazy rush to buy from Henlow outlet

People bombarded Bermuda Falls and Perfect Aquatics in Hitchin Road in desperate last minute rush to buy the glasses with more than 16,000 pairs sold since yesterday.

The team at Bermuda Falls said the centre experienced unprecedented demand, receiving more than 1,000 messages and enquiries about the glasses with staff working late yesterday to keep up with demand.

Luckily, the centre acquired extra supplies with customers assured pairs of glasses would be available today, and that ‘there was no need to rush down’.

But that didn’t deter hordes of customers who arrived early this morning.

Anthony Day, head of operations at Perfect Aquatics, said: “The response has been fantastic and far exceeded our expectations. It has been wonderful to see so many people excited about the solar eclipse and keen to enjoy this special event safely.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard, and we are very grateful for the support and enthusiasm shown by the local community.”

The situation, however, led to complaints of drivers blocking the road and causing delays and police issuing a warning to drivers abandoning cars on the A507this morning, with one customer speculating on social media: “It's the only place in the area that have solar eclipse glasses, people are driving there from Milton Keynes and all sorts.”

A member of the Biggleswade Community Policing Team warned on its Facebook page: “This morning we have had multiple calls in relation to vehicles attending Perfect Aquatics, Henlow, and leaving vehicles unattended along the A507.

“If any further vehicles are left at the location in a dangerous manner, tickets will be issued and vehicles will be removed for obstruction on the A507 and surrounding roads.”

A spokesperson for Bermuda Falls Golf Centre, which had advertised the sale of solar eclipse glasses, confirmed it had been inundated.

On its Facebook page it wrote: “The level of footfall we experienced was genuinely unprecedented. We had absolutely no way of anticipating just how many people would come down for eclipse glasses, so we really appreciate everyone who remained patient with us while our team worked as quickly as possible to keep up with demand.

“Unfortunately, it simply isn’t possible for us to respond to everyone individually but some of our team have come off very long shifts today, including myself, after working to keep up with the demand. We’re doing our best, but replying to every message tonight just isn’t possible.”

And they added a plea to “please be kind to our staff. They have worked incredibly hard today dealing with a level of demand none of us could have predicted”.

The first partial solar eclipse since 1999 is set to be visible across the UK between 6pm and 8pm tonight but will be at its peak around 7.13pm.

If you don’t have any safety glasses, you can reuse a cardboard box to make a simple pinhole projector for safe viewing. Cut a hole in the box and fix some old kitchen foil on top. Make a small hole in the foil and place some white paper at the bottom of the box.

Alternatively, make a small hole in a piece of cardboard. Hold this over some white paper to watch the eclipse safely without looking at the sun.

Anyone who can’t find a suitable viewing spot, or if clouds get in the way, can watch online via live stream.