PEOPLE swarmed to The Pimple on Whitchurch Down last Friday to witness the partial solar eclipse.

Although the UK did not plunge into total darkness, everyone definitely noticed a dramatic drop in temperature and that the Dartmoor ponies even stood still as the moon came between the earth and the sun.

Around 40 to 50 people descended on to the patch of Dartmoor to catch a glimpse of the eclipse and came in hand with their colanders, welding masks and CDs — even those who did not come prepared were thankful to those who shared out their items so that everybody had a chance to witness the phenomenon.

One woman said: 'I am surprised at how bright it was seeing that 90 per cent of the sun was covered.

'It has been lovely to see everyone together enjoying the eclipse.'

One man said that despite the wind chill everyone was in good spirits: 'It was so nice to see community spirit at its best with people sharing their "eclipse equipment".'

l The next solar eclipse visible from Europe will be in 2026 but there will be a lunar eclipse this September.

Pictured above are, left to right, Laurence Harrison; Zeni Hayton, Callington College; Joe Wheeler, Tavistock College; Matt Davies, Plymouth College of Art and Design; Christian Mennell, Tavistock College.