BRITS have been urged not to throw away their solar eclipse glasses after thousands queued for hours to get their hands on the rare specs.

Many eager viewers waited in hour-long queues across the country to snap up a pair of protective eyewear before the event, but many were met with “sold out” signs.

Simon Laken and his son Jasper wearing protective glasses with the British flag design while viewing a partial solar eclipse.Brits have been urged to keep solar eclipse glasses safe for the next celestial phenomenon Credit: Reuters

However, anyone who managed to secure a pair of glasses has been urged to keep them, as they can be reused for future events.

Solar eclipse glasses remain functional for 10 years after they are bought, and will still be able to from the Sun’s rays.

This might be sooner than expected – in less than a year, a partial solar eclipse is set to dazzle the UK skies.

With roughly 42 per cent coverage of the Sun set to be seen across the country, the next is anticipated for August 2, 2027.

For those looking for an excuse to travel abroad, parts of southern Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East will witness the path of totality for this occasion.

However, a pair of glasses should only be used if they are less than 10 years old.

This means that any glasses bought to mark the 1999 solar eclipse cannot be used for any future cosmic events.

According to The American Astronomical Society, it is important to “always inspect” the solar filter of the glasses to make sure they are not damaged or scratched.

The warns that glasses must be thrown away “if scratched, punctured, torn or otherwise damaged,” even if they are less than 10 years old.

If you do find any glasses hidden away in cupboards and drawers in the future, only eyewear that is is recommended for viewing the eclipse.