David Cameron has praised Londoners for their “spirit and enterprise”, as the entire city evacuated ahead of Nicolas Sarkozy’s state visit. The French President, who arrived by Eurostar last night, walked the empty streets of the capital with his advisors, claiming it was “like Paris in August”.

“‘Operation Sarko’s Coming’ was a huge success,” said David Cameron from his home in Witney, Oxfordshire. “The alarm was raised at approximately 11am this morning when it was announced that the French President would be coming to London, and the way Londoners reacted was simply brilliant. They have been a credit to themselves, and their spirit and enterprise has shone through today.”

“I spoke to one man this afternoon who had commandeered a coach to help as many of his neighbours get out of London. This is what I was talking about when I said I’m proud of the people of Britain – when we have to, we all pull together. I’ve heard stories of people in the Home Counties who have taken as many as twenty Londoners into their houses, allowing them to sleep free of charge on their couches or on the floor, making them cups of tea and generally being good eggs.”

“However, the situation is grave and dangerous. Nicolas Sarkozy is still in London, and until he has gone, I’m afraid we cannot return. He is far too small to be noticed, and I cannot risk the health of our great British citizens. Yes, we must wait. Yes, we must pull together in this period of difficulty. But pull together we shall.”

Government insiders, though, are worried that some elderly people were unable to leave the city before Sarkozy’s train arrived at St. Pancras station, and are drawing up survival documents for anyone thought to be left behind. Advice includes not going out unless absolutely necessary, and washing hands immediately after returning home. Some Londoners are thought to have locked themselves in their houses, having rushed out to buy sufficient supplies to last a week, while shopkeepers have boarded up shopfronts for fear of looters.

Chiswick shopkeeper Benjamin Foothold said that he was “huddled in the back of a delivery van” with his family and ten other business owners, adding: “I don’t know if anything will be left when I get back – but my first thought was – get out, get my family out, and get safe. Everyone was running around like crazy, there were women holding babies… mad, like. Just mad. I think I left the front door open, too. But we’re safe and that’s all that matters.”

Even London’s 300,000 French residents left the city, with many taking the Eurostar back to Paris, claiming that it is “the safest place to be” for the weekend. Jean Aimarre, who runs the local boulangerie in Kensington, said “This little connard is the reason I’m here in London. For the safety of my family, we’re travelling back to France until the situation has resolved itself.”