Harrogate photographer's stunning pictures of the partial eclipse in his garden

Hundreds of Harrogate people stopped what they were doing to watch the solar eclipse.

Although the south-west was the best place to view this rare spectacle, in Britain at least, last night, Wednesday did see more than 90% of the sun covered by the moon even in North Yorkshire.

Iceland fell into in total blackness during the solar eclipse over head.

Those watching the astronomical phenomenon from the UK were treated to a partial eclipse at different times from 6pm onwards.

It still amounted to the most dramatic solar eclipse seen here for nearly 30 years.

Some Harrogate residents chose to make for elevated locations at the likes of Otley Chevin to get a better view between 7pm and 7.30pm.

But most gathered in their back or front gardens as the sky briefly fell eerily into a twilight state.

Among them was Harrogate photographer Steve Martin who sent us stunning pictures of the partial eclipse, as seen from his garden in Bilton.

Eclipse worshippers were advised in advance to wear ISO 12312-2 certified spectacles to look at the sun as it became obscured by the moon.

Some even repurposed household objects with small holes, such as a colander, to make a pinhole projector to watch the big moment without damaging their eyes.

Last night’s total eclipse moved through Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small section of north-eastern Portugal.

The last total eclipse in the UK was in August 1999 when it could be seen over Cornwall and parts of Devon, which were on the path of totality, although cloud cover ruined the view for many areas.

The next partial solar eclipse visible in the UK will occur next year in August.

But the next full solar eclipse in this country will not occur for another 60 years in September 2090.

An eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth.

For a short period of time only, the Earth is in the shadow of the Moon.