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In pictures: Solar eclipse in South West and Channel Islands

Sue PazSouth West
News imagePhil Naylor The start of the solar eclipse in Braunton, Devon. The shadow of the moon can be seen starting to cover the edge of the sun in the bottom right. The Sun is seen as a white circle on a black background.Phil Naylor
The spectacle lasted about one hour and 50 minutes - captured here at the start by Phil Naylor above Braunton in Devon

Beaches, hilltops and gardens provided the backdrop for thousands of people as they turned their attention to the skies to witness the most significant solar eclipse since 1999 across the South West and Channel Islands.

Cornwall, Devon, Guernsey and Jersey were among the best places in Britain to watch the rare celestial event on Wednesday, with 94% to 96% of the Sun obscured by the Moon.

We have collated a selection of images from across the region and islands to showcase the spectacle.

News imageDrunkards Lane People gathering on the grassy hilltop at Basset Monument in Carleen, near Helston in Cornwall. They are looking across the valley and towards the water below in the background.Drunkards Lane
People gathered on the grassy hilltop at Basset Monument in Carleen, near Helston, in Cornwall, to watch the event - as snapped by BBC Weather Watcher Drunkards Lane
News imageTorbay Adventurer A red crescent Sun as seen in the skies above Churston Ferrers, Torbay.Torbay Adventurer
BBC Weather Watcher Torbay Adventurer photographed this fiery crescent at Churston Ferrers in Devon
News imageA boy in an orange hoodie with the hood up, wearing eclipse glasses, and looking towards the Sun in Hern, Guernsey. Only his head is pictured to the left of the frame. Grass can be seen blurred out in the background.
Spectators were warned not to look directly at the sun without special eclipse glasses, as sported here by a young onlooker in Hern, in the Channel Islands
News imageGetty Images Members of the public gather on Gyllyngvase Beach to watch the partial solar eclipse. the beach is pictured to the right while the sea is to the left. The beach is packed with people and the sky is blue above.Getty Images
With the event taking place amid sunny weather, holidaymakers took full advantage of the open space, including on Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall
News imageThe Ranger A watery yellow Sun and orange rays above the sea at Le Braye in Jersey with grassland in the foreground and wispy clouds above.The Ranger
The partial eclipse - captured here by BBC Weather Watcher The Ranger after its peak in Le Braye, Jersey - came as parts of Britain experienced their fifth heatwave
News imageLots of people of the sand and grassy coastline at Le Braye in Jersey. they are gathered on a hill to the left and down towards the sea on the right.
The coastlines were a popular viewing spot with many onlookers also enjoying picnics and water sports
News imageThe silhouette of the coastline and lighthouse on the rocks at Corbiere in Jersey with a small circle of golden sunlight glows in the sky above and reflects on the sea amid dusky blue skies.
The skies temporarily darkened, including above Corbiere in Jersey, as the event peaked

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