THE centre of Oxford came to a standstill yesterday morning as the solar eclipse brought an eerie gloom over the city’s spires.

Eclipse enthusiasts pitched up as early as 8am on the steps of the new Weston Library in Broad Street, while passers-by stopped in their tracks to appreciate the rare phenomenon.

Photographers and keen observers carefully chose their spot to catch the eclipse above the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre.

The cloud cover fluctuated as spectators were intermittently treated to glimpses of the moon blocking out the sun, which last happened in the UK 16 years ago.

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Dr Nikolai Lissin, a cancer research scientist and keen amateur photographer, caught yesterday’s eclipse from an almost identical spot to where he stood for the last one in 1999.

Oxford Mail:

People watch the solar eclipse in Broad Street.

Dr Lissin said: “Last time it formed much quicker and was much shorter – I still have one of the photos I was showing a colleague the day before.

“In those days I was using slide film so couldn’t take as many photos.

“The clouds opened just in time for the eclipse yesterday and it was a great view.”

He added: “The good thing about being in Oxford at that moment as opposed to anywhere else is the buildings.

“The statues on the top of the Bodleian interacted really well with the eclipse for some great photos.”