18 stunning photos as thousands witness solar eclipse across Merseyside

Thousands of people across Merseyside witnessed a partial solar eclipse tonight, Wednesday August 12. In one of the rarest and most impressive astronomical events, the Moon covered more than 90% of the Sun. It was the most coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 eclipse, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. The UK last witnessed a solar eclipse in March 2025, but that time only around 30-40% of the Sun was covered by the Moon. Tonight, more than 90% of the Sun was obscured, which caused the sky to dim as the Moon blocked out the sunlight. People met up at with family and friends at beauty spots across Merseyside on a glorious summer evening to soak up the once-in-a-lifetime event. The next partial eclipse may not happen until 2050. Sam, from Formby, went to the Pier Head to w