Eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low

Health officials have said specialist glasses must be used 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 - 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. How and when to solar eclipse With around 90% of the Sun set to be obscured , 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. Solar eclipse 2026 weather forecast – where and when will the best view be? Watch safely says man with eye damage from eclipse A WhatsApp channel which advertises stock in corner shops - including some offering delivery - has attracted thousands of followers in a matter of days. Elsewhere, hopeful buyers in Reddit and Facebook threads are directed to online marketplaces, including for more expensive bulk purchases. Lily, 27, "posted on Instagram like everyone else did" after the glasses she ordered from Ebay failed to turn up. "I had like three or four people replying saying, 'if you find out where to get some, let me know'." She said her best hope was a newsagents rumoured to be selling stock late on Tuesday evening - but hundreds of hopeful buyers were expected to turn up. "I was like, I don't want to go to World War Three to find a pair of cardboard and plastic glasses.