WHAT a spectacle, despite all the clouds! And what a variety of ways people found to look at the last total eclipse of the sun until 2090.

Some used carboard pin-hole contraptions, some used special filters, some peered at the reflection in buckets of water or in windows, and some risked it by sneaking a peek directly at the sun despite all the warnings.

The whole area was brought to a standstill shortly after 11am when the moon eclipsed the sun and thousands of local people stopped what they were doing to watch, even though the heavy cloud gave watchers only an occasional glimpse of the sun with its moon shadow.

One disappointed bystander was greatgrandmother Ada Gibson, of Clayton- le-Moors.

Ada, 83, said: "I saw the last eclipse at school in Haslingden when I was seven and I've been telling all my family about how special it was going to be.

"But at 11am it wasn't dark, it was just like a stormy day and a big, black cloud was blocking out the sun.

"I'm disappointed because we would have had a wonderful sight of it and I would have seen two total eclipses."

Angela Woodcock, assistant manager of Oddie's bakers in Blackburn Shopping Centre, closed temporarily so all the staff could go outside. She said: "We closed the shop but I don't think anyone noticed because there were no customers anyway - they were all watching it too and most of the shops around us did the same.

"We went outside and although we couldn't see it clearly because of the clouds it did go dark and very cold. It was strange but brilliant, really good."

Shoppers wary of staring directly at the sun because of health warnings jostled for position outside electrical stores, which were showing coverage of the eclipse on TV screens.

At Accrington, several shops closed in the Arndale Centre during the eclipse, while Hyndburn Council employees were allowed to stop work.

In Pendle and Burnley, thousands of schoolchildren who had just gone back after their holidays were allowed outside to see the spectacle - under strict safety orders - or watched on televisions indoors.

Two Burnley neighbours had very different instruments through which to view the eclipse.

Audrey Simpson, of Westbury Close, made a pinhole viewer from a cakebox while Barbara Holsgrove, who lives further up the road, enjoyed the experience through an original 1927 Ecliptoglass.

Mrs Holgrove said: "I found the Ecliptoglass among my mother's things when she died four years ago and am glad I kept hold of it.

"It was issued in 1927 for the eclipse then and includes loads of information about its path. I've been very excited about this eclipse and it was quite an experience to see."

Neighbour Audrey said: "I had a look through Barbara's Ecliptoglass and it was great, though my Oddie's cakebox was OK."

The warnings about eye damage seemed to have been heeded.

Just one person went to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering from the effects of glare and two people rang for advice later.

During the last UK mainland eclipse, in 1927, East Lancashire experienced a total obscuring of the sun which lasted for two minutes. But people were left disappointed yesterday when the eclipse failed to produce the promised experience of twilight.

Astronomers predicted that even with a 91.6% obscuring of the sun in the North West, the effect would be remarkable.

As the eclipse reached its climax, temperatures began to drop and automatic security lights came on in the near-darkness.

Thousands of people who travelled to the South to see the eclipse did not get the spectacular show they hoped for.

North East England proved to be one of the brightest spots in the country to view the eclipse with bright sunshine covering the region from 7am.

There were also clear blue skies over much of South Wales, allowing thousands of people a perfect view.

Closer to home, Blackpool's Golden Mile basked in twilight and the lights on the Tower and Big Wheel lit up.

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