Eclipse over Lancashire was a night we will never forget - but google searches for 'sore eyes' up by 650%

Last night’s partial solar eclipse was an event which will be remembered forever by those who witnessed it.

Up to 96 per cent of the Sun was covered by the Moon in the deepest solar eclipse the British Isles have seen in more than a decade.

And the weather provided perfect conditions to appreciate the celestial drama unfolding far above the earth.

Clear sunlight and a virtually cloudless sky allowed viewers the best chance to experience the once-in-a-generation event.

In Preston’s Moor Park and at Rivington Pike, hundreds gathered two hours before the 7pm eclipse to get the best viewing spot.

Meanwhile, in Buckshaw Village, groups enjoyed picnics while waiting for the skies to darken and the temperature to drop signalling the start of the eclipse.

In Fleetwood, sun worshipper flocked to Rossall Beach while in neighbouring Blackpool, hundreds waited on the Prom for the solar display to begin.

At all venues, people wore special glasses to view the eclipse. If they couldn’t find any glasses for sale, they used homemade viewers made from cereal boxes and colanders.

Many brought their own chairs, while photographers could be seen with cameras.

However, despite nationwide safety messages following the eclipse, there was a 650 per cent increase in the number of people searching “sore eyes” on Google in the UK, compared to the same time on Tuesday.

It came after experts warned people to view the spectacle only with ISO 12312-2 solar eclipse glasses for the safest eye protection, as sunglasses would be insufficient.

Thousands gathered on Crosby beach in Merseyside, and as the eclipse reached its peak, The Beatles’ Here Comes The Sun was played by a DJ.

Hours after the eclipse had passed, British stargazers were treated to an extra delight as the Perseid meteor shower lit up the night sky across the UK.

The phenomenon peaked in the early hours of Thursday morning, with those in rural areas having a better chance of getting a clear glimpse of the shower.

The shower is produced as Earth ploughs through a stream of dust left behind by Comet Swift–Tuttle.

Each tiny grain strikes Earth’s atmosphere at about 60 kilometres per second, burning up in a brief flash that takes the appearance of a shooting star.

John Lewis said colander sales increased nearly 40 per cent compared to last year, with Nasa recommending the kitchen item as a way to watch an eclipse by viewing the shadows it casts on the ground.

Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse.

Around 40 per cent had looked at it for less than a minute.