Image source, Blackpool Pleasure BeachImage caption, People descended on Blackpool Pleasure Beach to watch the eclipse
ByPaul BurnellNorth West- Published33 minutes ago
Thousands of people gathered on beaches and in parks to get the best spots to watch the solar eclipse in the North West.
Between 90% and 96% of the sun slowly disappeared behind the moon, starting from just after 18:00 BST and finishing at about 19:20.
While the people of Greenland, Iceland and parts of northern Spain were destined to see a total eclipse, the eclipse witnessed in the UK was still the best since August 1999.
Huge crowds gathered at Heaton Park in Manchester, and at Crosby beach on Merseyside to watch the once-in-a-generation display.
People also flocked to Salford Quays, and tourists at Blackpool Pleasure Beach broke off to watch as the moon slowly eclipsed the sun.
Image caption, Hundreds flocked to Crosby beach
Image caption, People lined the shore at Crosby beach to watch the eclipse
Image source, Andy Gill/BBCImage caption, Pauline Strain and Richard Howard did not want to miss the event
Pauline Stain, who was Crosby beach with her partner Richard Howard, said: "It's a phenomenon. It's almost spiritual. I probably won't be alive for the next one.
"Unfortunately I missed 1999 because I was working but I'm retired now."
Image caption, Crowds gathered at MediaCity in Salford to watch the once-in-a-generation display
Image source, Paul Burnell/BBCImage caption, Matthew Morman, watching at Salford Quays, had to improvise to view the eclipse
Matthew Moran, from Salford, headed to view the event at MediaCity, taking with him a hastily assembled viewer made from a cereal box and silver foil.
"I did it about 30 minutes ago and it's working," he said.
Image source, Kyle ShielsImage caption, The BBC's Kyle Shiels took this shot from one of the bridges at MediaCity in Salford.
Image source, Hannah HarrisonImage caption, Hannah Harrison's pets Nessa and Bracken view the eclipse in Rainford
Image source, Jade Taylorson/BBCImage caption, Thousands went to Heaton Park in Manchester to view the eclipse
Image caption, Large crowds gathered at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire
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