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How the West watched most historic solar eclipse since 1999

Leigh BoobyerWest of England
BBC People are stood by a stone wall looking through cardboard boxes up at the eclipseBBC
No special viewing glasses? No problem

Thousands of people from across the West of England stood or sat completely still on Wednesday evening to watch a historic partial eclipse.

More than 90% of the sun was obscured by the moon - the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.

In areas like Weston-super-Mare, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham and Warminster people gathered to watch the phenomenon with special glasses, alongside DIY viewers who looked through cereal boxes and colanders. One person even watched through a welding mask.

From vantage points to pub gardens and homes, here's how you viewed the once-in-a-generation solar eclipse.

Bristol

Handout Big crowd sitting on grass near parked cars on Clifton's Downs.Handout
Huge crowds gathered on Clifton's Downs, where earlier free eclipse glasses were being handed out
A woman is holding a colander up against a white piece of paper
For those not lucky enough to secure the free glasses on Clifton Downs, some people have taken to other means
Handout Many people are sat and stood on a large hill to watch the eclipseHandout
There were cheers on Trooper's Hill as people gathered to watch the phenomenon
Handout A young boy is wearing special eclipse glasses while looking at the sunHandout
Nine-year-old Louis was given a pair of glasses by a stranger and says he "feels really lucky"

Gloucestershire

People are sat on chairs while on a large hill
People climbed Cleeve Hill, on the edge of Cheltenham, to watch the eclipse at what is the highest point of Gloucestershire
Three people are sat on grass wearing eclipse glasses
Some people had both the eclipse glasses and homemade viewing devices
A group of people are standing and looking up at the sun
Picnics at the ready: lots of people combined the eclipse viewing with alfresco dining

Somerset

Four young girls are pointing up at the sky while standing on a sandy beach
Weston-super-Mare's famous beach was packed with people hoping to view the eclipse
A family of four are sitting on a blanket and a chair while wearing glasses, looking at the eclipse.
Families gathered in Weston-super-Mare hoping to get a clear view
Two woman are sat down on grass with special eclipse glasses looking at the sun
Beckford Tower, in Bath, was also busy with eclipse enthusiasts
People are sat on stone steps looking at the sun
Meanwhile, people gathered by Cheddar Reservoir for a scenic view

Wiltshire

PA Media A woman is holding a cardboard box with a man stood next to her, pointing it at the sun. Behind them is the large Stonehenge circlePA Media
People turned to DIY methods to view the eclipse at prehistoric Stonehenge
PA Media A woman is wearing a black welding mask looking at the sunPA Media
One woman stood out from the crowd wearing a welding mask
PA Media A woman is holding up a colander and a piece of paper while looking away from the sunPA Media
And lots of people brought their colanders to the event
A woman is looking into a large telescope
Meanwhile, Starquest Astronomy Club held a special event in Warminster town park for people to view the spectacle
Two women are sat down wearing special eclipse glasses to look at the sun
Two women don their fiery eclipse glasses
A woman is looking through a hole in a giant cardboard box at the sun
And some people got very creative to view the historic moment

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