‘Colander sales jumped nearly 40%’: how Britons viewed the solar eclipse

It started with the solar glasses, as people desperate to see the most complete eclipse in decades formed long queues to buy the proper protective eyewear. Then, when those sold out almost everywhere, they came for the colanders.

Sales of the kitchen staple, which could be used to safely view the partial solar eclipse that enraptured millions, increased markedly, retailers have said.

Meanwhile, huge numbers of rental bikes had to be cleared away from the areas around popular viewing spots after people used the cycles in the rush to find a vantage point – then abandoned them once the event was over.

And the problems didn’t end there: there were complaints about masses of litter being left, with one pub in Manchester threatening to bar anyone found to be responsible.

More than 90% of the sun was obscured by the moon on Wednesday evening for the most significant eclipse visible in the UK since 1999.

Crowds could be seen at viewing spots – including the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Calton Hill in Edinburgh and outside Queen’s University in Belfast.

For those who missed out on eclipse glasses, homemade viewers made from cereal boxes sufficed, while others used colanders to create pinhole projectors.

“Colander sales jumped nearly 40% at John Lewis compared with last year,” the retailer said. Tesco also said sales of its stainless steel colanders rose by more than 130% week on week, while sales of its plastic versions rose 13%.

Large numbers of Lime bikes were left in piles in London. A spokesperson for the firm said: “Last night’s solar eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we’re delighted to have helped so many Londoners experience it … our on-street team was quick to respond and moved and tidied bikes in areas where demand for our service was extremely high.”

Ebike staff weren’t the only ones who faced a clear-up mission. Manchester’s Tandle Hill Tavern staff posted that they were “honestly enraged by the amount of rubbish” its regulars had picked up at the nearby Tandle Hill War Memorial viewing point – threatening that those responsible could “consider yourself barred”.

Fears had been expressed that people without glasses, and not wishing to get creative with kitchenware, could cause damage to their eyes by looking directly at the sun.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, among others, urged people planning to watch the solar event to protect themselves; warning that even brief exposure to the sun could cause lasting vision damage.

The eclipse in 1999 left many people concerned they had permanently damaged their eyes.

According to a contemporary Guardian report, within an hour of the eclipse, more than 100 people called a helpline at Moorfields eye hospital in London.

The royal college reported 70 cases of serious damage to people’s eyesight; albeit none permanent.

But there was little sign problems had been experienced on a similar scale this time round, despite a surge in “eyes hurt” Google searches.

By Thursday morning, Moorfields had fewer than 30 people use its accident and emergency services complaining of problems related to the eclipse, while the NHS trust that runs the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre reported having dealt with just eight patients.