Did you miss the eclipse? Here is a video

Claire and Katie Steele from Waringstown look at the eclipse

The area went into the twilight zone at around 9.30am due to the near-total solar eclipse, though some of the phenomenon was obscured by the clouds.

There were some reports of birds “going crazy” and flocking to trees, confused by the fading light.

At Carn a few from the office peered through a pinhole in an A4 sheet of paper to see the eclipse so as not to hurt our eyes.

And it was superb, a clear view of the moon appearing to hover across the sun.

The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, and was “total” - with 100% of the Sun covered - when seen from Cornwall.

Another “deep” partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12, 2026, and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.

Ralph Wilkins, from the London-based Baker Street Irregular Astronomers, who joined a group of sky-watchers outside a school in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire, to witness the eclipse, said: “The sky started clearing just after first contact and we were able to watch the moon glide in front of the sun.

Photo of the eclipse taken by David Leonard

“It was a unique experience - eerie is the right word for it. The shadows started to sharpen and everything began to develop this yellowish hue.

“Whenever there’s a solar eclipse in the UK you tend to get cloud, so to be treated to clear skies was really wonderful. It really was beautiful. We were all thrilled.”