In pictures: Cloud hampers solar eclipse viewers at The Kelpies

However, despite the warm temperatures cloud cover meant that the celestial spectacle could not be seen in all its glory locally.

Wednesday’s partial eclipse saw the moon move between the sun and the Earth, blocking much of the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth for a short period.

And in the UK, this latest solar eclipse was the closest the country has come to a total eclipse in 27 years.

The moon covered around 91 per cent of the sun above Falkirk, although most would not have been able to see this at the peak due to the clouds.

Locally the eclipse began at 6.08pm on Wednesday and reached its maximum around an hour later at 7.05pm.

For some there were small breaks in the cloud which allowed those watching to see some of the eclipse as the moon moved in front of the sun but the peak was not clearly visible for most.

Eclipse watchers had turned out at the Helix Park in the hope of witnessing the moment, described as a 'once in a generation’ event, armed with special eclipse safety glasses and homemade pinhole projectors.

Many others around the district would have been using similar safe methods to view the eclipse at home in their gardens too.

Although it was only a partial eclipse in the UK and Ireland, there was a total solar eclipse in other parts of the world including parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain.

Falkirk Herald photographer Michael Gillen was among those who went to the Kelpies on Wednesday evening hoping to see the partial eclipse – and here are some of his photographs.