The resources of the Whitby Police were stretched to the limit. In addition to the abnormal work of the rescue operation itself, they had to deal with telephone enquires from all over the country. There was a massive increase in the traffic as thousands of people crowded into the town’s narrow streets, steep hills and the bottle – neck of the swing bridge which spanned the river dividing East and West Whitby.

Vendors and hawkers soon appeared. In some businesses, especially those providing refreshments, news or souvenirs, disaster can be highly profitable.