Thanks for The Eclipse – now we're off!

Following the Eclipse the AA estimated that over 6,000 cars an hour were leaving Cornwall and Devon. This created jams of up to six miles, particularly near Exeter on the M5 following an accident. Some 41,000 cars had left the region within the first 12 hours. This was 11,000 up on a normal period.

Service stations throughout the Caradon area reported bumper fuel sales. At Granada Services, Saltash, there were 7,000 customers on eclipse day itself, which was more than 200 per cent up on previous best figures, while in Liskeard town centre, Margaret Lock of the Esso Garage said it had been one mad rush for three days.