ASTRONOMERS were left disappointed after cloudy skies over the Sunshine Coast blocked views of the near-total solar eclipse last week.

Some lucky sky-watchers across the country got to experience the full extent of the event as the moon crossed in front of the sun, covering up to 97 per cent of its surface.

But for much of the UK, the eclipse was only noticeable as the sky darkened at 9.30am while the sun itself remained hidden behind a blanket of cloud.

There were pockets of clear skies over Wales, parts of the West Country and the Midlands, and eastern Scotland around Edinburgh.

The eclipse started at 8.30am and peaked at about 9.35am. The last major solar eclipse in the UK happened on August 11 1999, and was “total” – with 100 per cent of the sun covered when seen from Cornwall.

David Pugh, of Clacton and District Astronomy Association, said: “It was completely cloudy and very disappointing.

“I had set up equipment in the garden, with a board over the front of my binoculars and a cap over one lens.

“It would have projected the image on to a sheet of white card.

“It would have been about 84 per cent coverage by the moon here, but it was cloudy over most of the South- East – it was a great shame."