DRAMATIC darkness fell over Warrington this morning giving residents a rare chance to see a solar eclipse.

Dozens of onlookers visited Hill Cliffe in Appleton for a view over Warrington.

Hundreds of students also braved the chilly weather at Priestley College to watch the first solar eclipse of their lifetime.

Science students turned up prepared with colanders, cereal boxes and eclipse glasses whilst almost everyone seemed to have a mobile phone to record the historic moment.

“It was great to see students from across the college experiencing this truly astronomical event,” said Deb Pressage, head of science and maths at Priestley.

“When the clouds cleared it was wonderful to see the look on everyone’s faces.”

For science student Eleanor Bradbury, formerly of the University Academy Warrington, it was a memorable experience.

“We’ve seen this happening on the TV in other countries so to have it happen here is really special,” she said.

Warrington Guardian photographer Dave Gillespie took this sequence of pictures.

Warrington Guardian:

 

Warrington Guardian: Solar Eclipse

Warrington Guardian: Solar Eclipse

BELOW: Anna Bass sent in this beautiful picture taken from 'Quayside', an NHS building situated on Wilderspool Park in Stockton Heath.

Warrington Guardian: The Eclipse