Horse racing, cricket and athletics events across the UK are adapting their arrangements for Wednesday’s solar eclipse, expected to begin shortly after 18:00 BST. The eclipse will bring unusually low light levels and is the most dramatic visible from the UK since 1999, prompting organisers to alter schedules and use floodlights.

Ffos Las racecourse in south Wales has moved its meeting forward by around two hours, with the first race now due at 15:35 rather than 17:40. Kempton’s 19:00 and 19:30 races will proceed under planned floodlights, while floodlights will remain on for four Hundred cricket matches; the 1999 eclipse also led to a Torquay United v Portsmouth match being postponed because tourist pressure stretched local policing.