Hundreds of people gathered on Windmill Hill in Hitchin to witness the most dramatic solar eclipse seen from the town for nearly 30 years.

Families, friends and curious onlookers headed to the popular viewpoint as the eclipse transformed the skies above Hitchin, with a sudden dusk descending across the town as the Moon passed in front of the Sun.

The gathering took on a communal atmosphere as people shared special eclipse glasses, giving others the chance to safely look towards the Sun and see the extraordinary celestial event more directly.

As the light faded, the crowd watched as the familiar Hitchin skyline took on an eerie appearance, with the dramatic change in conditions marking the peak of the eclipse.

For many of those on Windmill Hill, it was the first time they had experienced such a significant solar eclipse, while others recalled the famous eclipse of August 1999 – the last comparable event visible from Britain.

Phones and cameras were raised across the hill as people attempted to capture the moment, but much of the crowd simply stopped to watch as daylight briefly gave way to an unusual twilight.

The eclipse brought together hundreds of people of all ages, with glasses passed between strangers so as many people as possible could share the experience.

Within a short time, the light began to return and Hitchin gradually returned to a normal summer evening.

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But for those who gathered on Windmill Hill, the brief period of darkness provided a memorable shared moment – and a sight unlikely to be repeated over the town for many years.