MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spanish Easter shoppers double Gibraltar population

Gibraltar’s population was practically doubled as an avalanche of Spanish shoppers poured in through the frontier gates on Tuesday to take advantage of the price bargains resulting from the strength of the Euro in relation to Sterling, reports the Chronicle

According to traffic estimates a staggering 7,000 motor cars were recorded including droves of British ex-pats attracted by the good weather at the start of the traditional Easter vacation in Spain.

This caused huge traffic bottlenecks with tailbacks on the Spanish side stretching to the Rocamar Hotel. In answer to Chronicle questions, an RG Police spokesman said that the traffic congestion experienced on local roads was attributable to the sheer volume of incoming traffic.

Although commercial sectors are counting their winnings from this Easter bonanza that is likely to continue for the rest of the week, the greater traffic congestion is seen as the price to be paid for the all-round benefits to the economy derived from notably improved traffic frontier flow.