The residents of St Petersburg breathed a communal sigh of relief on Monday as black limousines ferried the leaders of seven rich countries down newly repaved avenues to the city airport.

Over the past three days of the Group of Eight summit they had become prisoners in their own city. They could not fly – the airport was shut down for security reason; take a boat ride – the Neva river was closed for navigation; and in some areas could not even bury their dead – “so as not to spoil the festive mood”, according to one resident.