Some eclipse enthusiasts splurged up to £18,000 on an exclusive view of the blackout including from yachts, five-star hotels and hot-air balloons.

Tourists are rushing to Iceland and Spain to glimpse the first solar alignment of its kind visible from the continent this century.

MADRID/REYKJAVIK, Aug 12 : Millions of people across Spain and Iceland geared up to witness a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, packing their protective glasses and travelling to…