A partial solar eclipse was set to be visible across South West England, including Devon and Cornwall, on Wednesday evening, with local officials and experts advising residents on how to watch it without damaging their eyesight. Consultant ophthalmologist David Jones urged people not to miss the "amazing celestial event" but stressed the importance of viewing it safely, given the well-known risks of looking directly at the sun.

In Devon and Cornwall, the eclipse was due to begin at around 18:18 BST, reach its peak at 19:15, and end at about 20:10. Jones's recommended methods for safe viewing included eclipse glasses, a pinhole projector, a colander, or a cereal box.