This week’s solar eclipse will be remembered by Gina Parkin for more than one reason.

Stargazer Gina, from Warmfield, is preparing for Wednesday’s major celestial event, where the whole of the UK will see its most dramatic partial solar eclipse in nearly three decades.

After initially buying five pairs of specialised protective solar glasses last week, Gina went online to buy another batch for her son, Darwin, 30 – but quickly realised she wasn’t the only one.

All the smaller packs had sold out and Gina, not wanting anyone to miss out on such a rare opportunity of seeing the eclipse, splashed out on a pack of 100.

GIna has been helped by friends Niki Fray-Smith and Eliza May Smith.

placeholder image — GIna has been helped by friends Niki Fray-Smith and Eliza May Smith.

Gina said: "But then I had an after thought about them arriving in time, so checked the reviews of the seller, which weren’t very good.

"I thought, well I’ll have to buy more from another seller - so I bought another 100!”

And they ALL arrived in time.

"By Sunday evening, I had 200 pairs,” Gina laughed.

Gina has helped so many Wakefield folk get ready for the solar eclipse

"The first 100 cost £70, but in the space of an hour, the price had risen to £130.

"I thought if other people had forgotten to buy a pair and then, at the last minute, tried to find any, they were either sold out or wouldn’t arrive in time.

So, she took to Facebook, letting others know that if they needed a pair, she had plenty!

Selling them for £5 a pair, Gina, who works in project management, suddenly realised just how many people wanted them.

Gina had to start a spreadsheet to keep track

"They were delivered at around 6.30pm on Tuesday and people were still getting in touch, popping to the house, at 10pm.

"I had to start a spreadsheet of who was coming and when, how many pairs they wanted and how many I had left – I didn’t want to run out and let people down. I was inundated with messages.

"I became a glasses shop in one day!"

Realising there was so much demand, Gina made the decision to limit the sales to one pair per family.

"I want as many people as possible to enjoy the eclipse and one pair for a family to pass around would be enough – I want everyone to experience it, after all, it won’t happen again until 2090!”

Some of the profit made from the sale with be donated to the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society in Pontefract.

"My partner, Martin, and I love stargazing and we want others to enjoy it too.

"I didn’t want anyone to be disappointed and I think we’ve sorted half of Wakey out and it will be worth it!”