Solar eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low

At a bakery in central London, stock has been flying off the shelves.

“I’ve sold, like, 100 this morning,” a staff member tells the BBC. But it’s not baked goods driving queues out of the door – customers are here to buy eclipse glasses.

They are among those hoping to catch a safe glimpse of Wednesday’s solar eclipse – the UK’s most significant since 1999 – but struggling to get their hands on the right gear.

Experts have urged eclipse enthusiasts not to look directly at the Sun – with even brief exposure causing lasting damage – and to seek out specialist glasses instead.

But online, pairs that meet safety specifications have all but sold out. Those still available either require a hefty next-day delivery fee or simply cannot arrive on time.

Even the Royal Museums Greenwich – recommended as a reputable retailer by UK health officials – has sold out, citing an “unprecedented volume” of orders.

Meanwhile, eclipse glasses have been turning up for sale in unexpected places as retailers try to capitalise on the demand.

“I Googled ‘where can I get eclipse glasses but not through the post’, because I realised I was too late,” one customer waiting to buy three pairs at the bakery on Monday tells BBC Radio 4’s PM programme.

“People have been struggling to find them all over,” says another.

With around 90% of the Sun set to be obscured by the Moon, the UK is expecting its most significant eclipse in 27 years.

The right glasses should have the international safety standard ISO 12312-2 printed on them, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised, and the lenses should not be scratched, torn or damaged.

It has also advised buying a new pair rather than using ones from 1999, and to take caution when it comes to glasses being sold online as the scramble for safe spectacles has prompted eclipse chasers to trawl social media for tips.