North Norfolk became one of the best vantage points this morning for viewing the solar eclipse. As the clouds started to clear just after 9.30am the sun was clearly visible from places including Walcott on the north Norfolk coast, with people stopping their cars and parking up on the sea front to catch a glimpse of the rare event.

North Norfolk News: The partial eclipse as seen from Cromer. Picture: DAVE 'HUBBA' ROBERTSThe partial eclipse as seen from Cromer. Picture: DAVE 'HUBBA' ROBERTS (Image: Archant)

Sky watchers were drinking champagne at Cromer sea front, preparing to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse.

Margaret Balls, 46, of Corner Street, Cromer, said: 'It was brilliant, I was a bit less exciting than I expected. I saw the eclipse in 1999 and it was a total eclipse.'

'It didn't get as dark as we thought it would but it did get very cold.'

Andy Dobson, 63, and wife Anne, 62, of Tucker Street, wondered why a crowd had gathered outside, and came out to have a look. Mr Dobson said: 'It was not quite as spectacular as I thought it would be. It did get a bit colder but when you have seen the total eclipse this was not the same.

Cromer sweet shop owner Peter Gibson left behind the Galaxies and Mars Bars and headed outside with his camera for an even better astronomical experience.

A keen amateur photographer, Mr Gibson, 46, who runs Amy's Sweet Shop, in West Street, locked the door and headed for a bench in Cromer Churchyard.

He photographed the eclipse on his Canon 1100D, with a shutter speed of 4,000, an F16 aperture, ISA 100, and used ND filters two, four and eight.

'This is my first time photographing an eclipse - it's a nice show. I'm more or less happy with what I've done,' he said. 'I never expected to get anything when I looked out of the bedroom window this morning because there was so much cloud but on the way to work I saw the sun. I carry my camera everywhere with me, just in case,' added Mr Gibson, who belongs to the amateur north Norfolk-based Last Tuesday Photography Club whose members specialise in night pictures.

Excited pupils from North Walsham High School watched the partial solar eclipse through clouds.

Members of the school's Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) club and 11-year-olds from year seven stood on the playing field for the historic event.

Science teacher Sam Prismall, who organised the event, said: 'We have had pupils talking about it for weeks. It was very fortunate that it wasn't too cold or windy. Although we couldn't view it with the pinhole cameras, because the sun wasn't out enough, the cloud cover was enough to see the eclipse with care. It is a fantastic experience. From a UK perspective it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.'

During the 85pc eclipse the temperature dropped and the students remained quiet while the small crescent was visible beneath the clouds.

Ellise Finch, 13, from North Walsham, who is in the STEM club, said: 'It was quite cool because I have never seen an eclipse before.'

Before the event, the pupils looked at the sky through an old welding mask and some youngsters had made tube viewers for the occasion.

Other students in the school, who were not on the field for the eclipse, watched it on the BBC Stargazing Live programme.