The Moon will obscure more than 90 percent of the Sun in the nightsky tonight

Skygazers across Scotland are gearing up for a historic partial solar eclipse tonight which will be the first of its kind in the UK since 1999.

The partial eclipse won’t be seen again for another 54 years, so many Scots will be looking for the best spots to watch the phenomenon.

The eclipse is created by the Moon passing directly between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring more than 90% of the Sun’s surface. It’ll be the most dazzling spectacle seen in the UK since August 1999.

For those watching in Scotland, if the sky is clear, gazers will get to witness the sky turn dark and a bright ring of the sun’s atmosphere appear.

The eclipse is expected to begin at around 6.08pm and will last around two hours, concluding at 8.03pm before sunset. It will reach its peak at around 7.10pm, when around 94% of the Sun is expected to be obscured by the Moon.

If you can’t get outside to see it for yourself, you can watch the solar eclipse live here. The free livestream from the Royal Museums Greenwich in London begins at 6.10pm and runs until 8pm.

When does the eclipse begin?

The eclipse will begin at around 6.08pm in Scotland reaching its maximum at approximately 7.10pm before ending shortly after 8.03pm. At its peak, around 94% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon.

Because the eclipse happens shortly before sunset, the Sun will sit only around 9° to 11° above the horizon at maximum eclipse. That means choosing a location with an uninterrupted view.

Best places to watch the eclipse in Scotland

The Met Office has confirmed that the west of Scotland is the best location to view the solar eclipse tonight.

• Western Isles and West Coast, including Glasgow, are predicted to see the most coverage in the country. Between 92 per cent to 94 per cent of the sun will be obscured here.
• Inverness will see around 90.74% of coverage of the Sun.
• Edinburgh will see 90.71% of the sun hidden.
• Parts of Aberdeenshire, Orkney and Shetland may see slightly less, between 88% to 90% of the eclipse.

Once the eclipse ends, skywatchers may be treated to another celestial display. The event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, meaning those who remain outdoors after darkness falls could also see dozens of shooting stars crossing a moonless sky.

How to watch the eclipse safely

Despite most of the Sun being covered, it is never safe to look directly at a partial solar eclipse without proper eye protection.

The UK Health Security Agency recommends using only genuine eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E). Ordinary sunglasses do not provide enough protection.

Anyone using binoculars, cameras or telescopes should ensure they are fitted with specialist solar filters. Alternatively, a simple pinhole projector made from a piece of card allows the eclipse to be viewed safely without looking directly at the Sun.

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She related the shocking story to Rylan Clark on BBC Radio 2, describing in detail the unfortunate turn of events that led to her almost being sacked.

“I was daydreaming through the window with the aspirator,” she said.

“You know the aspirator? That thing that goes…” Diane made a slurping sound.

“And he went ‘Diane, Diane!’ – the dentist that is.

“Diane, Diane! And I came to and I shoved it in with such force that I knocked the cap off their front tooth and it was lying in the middle of their tongue, an the dentist looked at me like, ‘you’re fired!”

“Did they fire you?” asked Rylan.

“No, actually. We just glued it back on, and everyone was happy.”

Diane Morgan in Ann Droid (Image: BBC)

Diane is a Farnworth-born actress, most recently in the public eye for writing and starring in the BBC sitcom Ann Droid.

Diane stars as Linda, a robotic assistant to Sue Johnston’s Sue Bevan, who is heartbroken after losing her husband 18 months prior.

Lawyers for the man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk say he shouldn’t be eligible for the death penalty because the shooter “hit the intended target” during the assassination last year at a Utah event attended by thousands of people.

Defendant Tyler Robinson’s attorneys say prosecutors have not proven that others who attended Kirk’s event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 were endangered by the shooting — a potentially aggravating factor under state law that would make it a capital crime.

The defense lawyers also disputed claims that Robinson targeted Kirk over his political views. Prosecutors alleged that Robinson told his roommate that he killed the activist because he “had enough of his hatred.” But the defense said that was not enough to prove what could have motivated Robinson, after searches of his apartment, computers and telephone failed to produce anything beyond that one statement.

The arguments were contained in documents filed late Tuesday as the defense tries to block the case from proceeding to trial.

Prosecutors last month presented what they call “overwhelming” evidence against Robinson, including DNA tests that tie him to the suspected murder weapon and apparent confessions by the defendant.

His defense attorneys during that hearing questioned the reliability of the prosecution’s evidence, but they didn’t offer any alternative theories for Kirk’s assassination. The defense made no mention of DNA in Tuesday’s filing.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea in the case. He turned himself in a day after Kirk was killed.

His defense attorneys previously tried to get the death penalty taken off the table after prosecutors were found to be in contempt of court for talking about the case to the media. State District Judge Tony Graf rejected that request.

Prosecutors have until Aug. 18 to respond to the defense arguments. The Associated Press left telephone and email messages with the Utah County Attorney’s Office seeking comment.

Robinson faces possible sentence enhancements if prosecutors can prove he targeted Kirk because of his political views.

Robinson’s former roommate, Lance Twiggs said in an April interview with prosecutors and investigators that Robinson sometimes talked about politics, including President Donald Trump. But Twiggs said he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting. The defendant also did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ+ rights, Twiggs said.

Preliminary hearings typically don’t last so long. Legal experts said the slow pace reflects a cautious approach by Graf and the large volume of evidence. Lawyers for Kirk’s family have asked Graf to make his decision on Sept. 1 so they case can proceed without further delay.

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The crews, from York and Acomb, were called to Tower Street near Clifford’s Tower at about 12.30pm on Wednesday (August 12).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it followed a report of a “tree on fire with youths in the tree after climbing it”.

But a service spokesperson said: “After a thorough search of the area no fire and no persons in a tree were found. This was believed to be a hoax call.”

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Updated: 17:50 BST, 12 August 2026

Eclipse mania has gripped the nation, with Britons forming huge queues in a last-minute scramble for glasses to watch the best solar eclipse in a generation. 

Starting from around 18:08 in Glasgow, the shadow of the moon will slowly slide across the sun until it covers up to 96 per cent of the surface.

At around 18:17 the eclipse will begin in London and should last all the way until 20:10, when the moon will cross once again out of the sun’s path. 

To make this all the more spectacular, clear skies are expected across most of the country. 

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However, the UK is braced for pandemonium and a spate of traffic accidents as the solar eclipse distracts drivers across the country. 

If you miss tonight’s spectacle, the next chance to see an eclipse this deep won’t come to the UK until 2050, and you’ll have to wait until 2090 for the next totality.

Follow live updates below 

Watching the eclipse tonight? Share your pictures with us!

If you’re watching the eclipse tonight and have managed to snap a picture of the crowds or the eclipse, then we’d love to see it!

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You can send in your pictures to mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk

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Everything you need to know about tonight’s partial solar eclipse

• Tonight, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK.
• First contact – the moment the moon’s shadow is first visible on the sun – will begin shortly after 18:00 BST.
• Maximum coverage will occur roughly one hour later, starting after 19:00 BST.
• Exactly how much of the sun will be obscured will depend on where you are, but up to 96 per cent could be hidden in some parts of the country.

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Pictured: People in Madrid pack out the parks ahead of the Solar eclipse

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Read: Everything you need to know about tonight’s total solar eclipse

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When will the solar eclipse start?

Exactly when the eclipse starts will depend on where you are viewing it from, with those further to the north getting the first peak.

Tonight’s solar eclipse kicked off with a partial eclipse visible from Anchorage, Alaska, just after 16:30 BST. We will be bringing you the first pictures of that as they come through.

The eclipse will then begin to be visible over Iceland between 17:43 and 17:46 BST, depending on the location on the island.

In the UK, first contact – the moment the moon’s shadow first appears on the sun – won’t occur until 18:08 in Scotland.

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Viewers in London, meanwhile, will need to wait a little longer until first contact becomes visible at 18:17.

In Spain, where a total eclipse will be visible, first contact will occur at 19:28 BST.

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The weirdest things that will happen during tonight’s solar eclipse

Aside from being incredible to look at, they are also known to create no shortage of strange events.

The unexpected darkness will disrupt the internal clocks of many animals, change weather patterns, lead to a spike in road accidents, and even change microbe behaviour.

These are the weirdest things that will happen tonight:

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Animals will act strangely

• Animals rely on cues from nature to understand what time of day it is.
• As a result, the darkened sky brought on by an eclipse can cause wildlife to shift their routines.
• For example, during the 2017 total solar eclipse over the US, fireflies started flashing their lights when the phenomenon hit its peak.
• The sudden darkness can also cause pets to act oddly, as they expect to encounter a storm.

There will be a spike in traffic accidents

• During the 2017 solar eclipse over the US, scientists from the University of Toronto charted a spike in road traffic accidents.
• While the reason for this spike remains unclear, the researchers say it’s probably not down to the change of light itself.
• Instead, this is likely caused by increased traffic as people drive to see the eclipse.
• It will suddenly get cooler
• Temperatures across the UK will drop by several degrees tonight, thanks to the solar eclipse.
• As the moon covers the sun – by up to 96 per cent in parts of Britain – it will suddenly get cooler.
• Temperatures usually fall about 1°C to 3°C during a partial solar eclipse and around 5°C during a total solar eclipse.

The wind will change direction

• The ‘eclipse wind’ is a change in wind direction as the moon temporarily blocks out the sun.
• In 2015, scientists from the University of Reading set up roadside weather sensors during a partial solar eclipse.
• They found that the wind changes direction thanks to changes to the ‘boundary layer’ – the area of air that usually separates high-level winds from those at the ground.

Tides reach their peak

• While eclipses themselves don’t cause strong tides, they always coincide with a new moon – meaning tides are at their peak.
• As a result, lifeguards are urging people not to swim in the sea during the event.

Microbes will shapeshift

• Researchers found that bacteria and fungi change shape during an eclipse, and noted ‘significant changes’ before and after the event.

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How to watch the eclipse if you don’t have eclipse glasses

If you didn’t manage to brave the queues for a pair of eclipse glasses, there’s no need to despair.

You can follow along with the whole event by tuning into our livestream, and you’ll even get a better view than anyone currently watching from the UK.

Live coverage provided by NASA will be coming live from the path of totality in Iceland and Spain, so expect slightly different timings from the UK.

The broadcast will launch at 18:15 BST, and the first glimpse of totality should come about 30 minutes later from NASA’s telescopes in Iceland.

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However, viewers of the livestream won’t just get one chance to witness totality.

At 19:28 BST, shortly after maximum coverage in the UK, the space agency will broadcast footage of the totality from Spain.

NASA even has a specially modified WB–57 high–altitude jet in the air to chase the moon’s shadow with scientific equipment, extending totality up to three minutes.

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Hundreds queue in Dublin street to buy glasses to watch rare eclipse

Hundreds of people have brought a Dublin city centre street close to a standstill as they queue to buy glasses to view the eclipse.

The line outside the Designist shop in George’s Street snaked for hundreds of yards; some of those in the queue said they had been waiting for up to two hours.

Among those in the queue was Kim Olin, who said she did not mind having to wait.

She said:

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I want to get a pair of glasses to look at the eclipse. The next one won’t be until 2090, and I won’t be alive by then, so this is my last chance.

Among those in the queue was Kim Olin, who said she did not mind having to wait.

Likewise, enthusiastic Dublin resident Bobby McQuillan said he had been waiting in the queue for more than an hour.

He said: ‘It will be worth it in the end. It is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and the forecast is that we will have a good view of it in Dublin.’

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When is the best time to see the eclipse in the UK?

The exact timing of the eclipse will vary based on your location, but things should kick off shortly after 18:00 BST today.

Maximum coverage, reaching up to 96 per cent in some areas, will occur roughly an hour later.

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Northern Scotland will get the first glimpse of the eclipse, starting in Glasgow at 18:08 BST, with more southern areas following after.

Here’s when to watch the eclipse in your area:

Edinburgh and Glasgow

• Eclipse starts: 18:08
• Maximum eclipse: 19:05
• End of eclipse: 20:06

Dublin

• Eclipse starts: 18:12
• Maximum eclipse: 19:10
• End of eclipse: 20:04

Manchester and Liverpool

• Eclipse starts: 18:13
• Maximum eclipse: 19:10
• End of eclipse: 20:04

Birmingham

• Eclipse starts: 18:15
• Maximum eclipse: 19:11
• End of eclipse: 20:04

Bristol, London, and Cardiff

• Eclipse starts: 18:17
• Maximum eclipse: 19:12
• End of eclipse: 20:06

Truro

• Eclipse starts: 18:17
• Maximum eclipse: 19:12
• End of eclipse: 20:10

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Filming the eclipse could damage your phone

Experts have warned that pointing an unprotected phone camera at the sun for an extended period can cause damage.

Jez Samuel, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, says: ‘Your phone screen is safe to look at throughout Wednesday’s eclipse – it’s the camera lens that needs protecting. Point an unfiltered lens at the sun, and you risk burning out the sensor, just as looking with the naked eye risks your vision.

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‘A phone camera lens focuses sunlight into an intense point on the sensor behind it, and enough unfiltered exposure will kill pixels permanently.

‘From then on, every shot carries the same dark marks.’

He warned repairs typically range from around £49 for a camera glass replacement to over £250 for a full module swap, depending on the phone.

‘The fix is simple, as long as you don’t zoom in,’ he explained. ‘Hold your eclipse glasses in front of the camera lens.

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‘Zooming concentrates sunlight the same way a telescope does, and that can burn straight through glasses never designed for it. For zoomed shots, use a dedicated clip-on solar filter instead.

‘If you’re planning to photograph or film Wednesday’s eclipse, it’s also worth making sure your phone has enough battery and storage, so you’re not caught out halfway through.’

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Drivers are told to turn their headlights on during the solar eclipse

Anyone driving during the eclipse is being told to take extra precautions and be prepared to turn on their headlights.

The RAC said the action might be necessary for vehicles which do not have automatic lights, to boost their visibility to other road users.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘While total darkness is unlikely, those with vehicles that don’t have automatic headlights or daylight running lights may need to switch on their dipped beams to ensure they are easily visible to other road users.

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‘The best advice to enjoy this rare event is to pull over somewhere safe and watch with specialist glasses.’

Mr Williams urged anyone driving in a westerly direction around the time of the eclipse to avoid being distracted.

He said: ‘Taking your eyes off the road even for a split second to try to catch a glimpse of the sun as it disappears behind the moon increases the risk of being involved in a collision, not to mention the potential for suffering long-term damage to your vision.’

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Don’t swim in the sea during the eclipse, RNLI warns

Britons are being warned not to swim in the sea during tonight’s eclipse.

The warning from the RNLI’s Jersey lifeboat station said it will not be safe to swim off Britain’s coastline due to strong tides.

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Solar eclipses always coincide with a new moon, meaning tides are at their strongest.

When the moon’s gravity pulls at Earth, water gets pushed and squeezed around on the globe, directed by both gravitational pull and other forces, until it ends up bulging outwards on the side closest to the Moon and the side farthest away. This is why high tide hits twice a day.

Tides are particularly dangerous during a new moon because the gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun align, meaning a stronger force known as a ‘spring tide’.

This is seen in higher tides as well as a greater difference between low and high tides than the rest of the month.

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Higher tides make swimming in the ocean much more dangerous as they can cause stronger currents – although the strongest currents do not generally occur at high tide itself.

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Whether you love traditional cod and chips or are not a fish fan and prefer sausage or pie and chips, fish and chip shops are a beloved institution.

Author of Food of the Cods, Daniel Gray, shared a list of the 25 best fish and chip shops in the UK with The I Paper.

The Scarborough chippy, North Bay Fisheries, made it onto the list despite some strong competition.

Why should I choose North Bay Fisheries?

On the fish and chip shop, the publication said: “Scarborough has more chippies per capita than any other place on earth, according to a 2025 survey.

“Meandering among them, their intoxicating aromas provoke stomach pangs.

“Turn from the sea and join the queue at North Bay Fisheries, tucked away on a terrace behind Peasholm Park.

“From its chrome frying ranges fly golden delights.”

Even though it is not directly on the seafront, the fish and chip shop is hugely popular in Scarborough.

If you visit the fish and chip shop, you might have to wait for a bit before you get your food, as the North Bay Fisheries usually has a long queue outside.

The shop offers a range of dishes including classic options like cod, haddock, and fish goujons that can be enjoyed alongside a portion of chips.

For those who do not like fish, you can pick up a pie, battered sausage, or some chicken nuggets.

Of course, you can enjoy your meal with some curry sauce, mushy peas, or gravy to dip your chips in.

What do customers of North Bay Fisheries think?

The fish and chip shop is loved by locals and visitors, having a 4.7 rating out of five on Tripadvisor.

One reviewer on Tripadvisor said: “Wonderful, fresh, plentiful.

“This is one of those ‘one-street-back-from-the-front’ gems.

“Completely amazing on every level.”

Another reviewer said: “Staying nearby and read the great reviews so decided to call for our evening meal.

“Opted for two regular fish and chips, mushy peas and curry sauce.

“Everything cooked fresh to order – pay and order at counter, wait until your number is called.

“Really good portion size, nothing greasy or oily.

“Fish tasted fabulous and fresh.

“Good value for money and would definitely return.”

Do you think North Bay Fisheries is deserving of its spot on the list? Let us know in the comments.

The warning comes as operators anticipate some disruption to the lines as temperatures soar this week

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Passengers are being urged to try to avoid train travel unless necessary this week as the UK endures its fifth heatwave of the year with soaring temperatures.

In some regions, temperatures are forecast to reach 30C and more on Thursday, prompting operators to issue an early warning over potential disrupted services.

The railway can be adversely affected by heat, which can lead to buckled rails, sagging overhead electric wires and lineside fires. Steel rails can exceed 50C when the air temperature is 30C.

Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway issued alerts to “only travel if essential”.

Other operators will either run a reduced timetable or are warning about the potential for short-notice cancellations.

Northern said it will run fewer trains than normal on some routes in the North West and Yorkshire on Thursday because of the extreme heat.

It told passengers that high temperatures “increase the risk of issues on the railway and with the reliability of our trains”, which means it must make adjustments to its usual timetable “to keep trains running”.

Some ticket restrictions have been eased, and passengers are being asked to check for travel updates before setting off, as well as carry water with them to stay hydrated.

Chiltern Railways said temperatures are expected to reach highs of 38C on parts of its network on Thursday. It will operate a reduce timetable between 11am and 8pm.

Among the changes are:

• Off-peak services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street will operate hourly instead of half-hourly.
• Some services between London Marylebone and Oxford will be cancelled.
• No Chiltern Railways services will operate from Birmingham Snow Hill from 10.15am until the end of the day.

Michael Stewart, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said: “We are asking customers to travel only if essential on Thursday because of the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across our network.

“By operating a reduced timetable during the hottest part of the day, we can provide a more reliable and comfortable service for customers.”

East Midlands Railway said trains between Nottingham and Worksop, and on the Nottingham to Leicester regional stopping route, will not run on Thursday after midday.

The Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route will run between Sheffield and Norwich only.

Another operator, Northern, said it will run fewer trains than normal on some routes in the North West and Yorkshire on Thursday because of extreme heat.

It told passengers: “High temperatures increase the risk of issues on the railway and with the reliability of our trains, which means we have to make adjustments to our usual timetable to keep trains running.”

South Cambridgeshire approved the solar farm, which is expected to provide power for thousands of homes

A temporary solar farm has been approved in the Cambridgeshire countryside despite fears it will harm the green belt. The development would also include a battery energy storage facility and developers Innova Renewables said it could power around 13,422 homes annually.

They said the panels would deliver up to 49.99MW of renewable energy and 10MW could be stored. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee considered the application for a 40-year operational period, after which the site would be restored to agricultural use.

Concerns had been raised about the 74 hectare site off Low Fen Drove Way in Horningsea’s impact on nearby Grade-II listed Biggin Abbey.

The proposal is also next to a site where the sewage treatment works in Cambridge was set to be relocated – but the future of this is unclear after the government withdrew funding.

The application was recommended for approval by council officers who said it would be “temporary and low scale” and considered the land to be grey belt – a site considered to make only a limited contribution to the green belt.

John Hughes, from the National Trust, said that “significant opportunities” were missed in the application to improve biodiversity and nature recovery. He said: “With a close proximity to Cambridge and other local populations, an opportunity to better connect with people and nature has been missed along with the varied social benefits it would provide.”

Although the scheme “substantially exceeds” the requirement for biodiversity net gain, Mr Hughes said this was largely through “passive measures” like the conversion of arable land to grassland. He said: “For a development of this scale on green belt land we would have expected a more ambitious and integrated approach to nature recovery.”

An agent for the developer said the scheme had “significant benefits” and would support “both local and national renewable energy and decarbonisation targets”.

She said: “South Cambridgeshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and this year’s climate and nature strategy committed to a 50 per cent reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050 for area wide emissions. This is well evident in the climate conditions we’re seeing across the UK and Europe this week.”

Councillor Anna Bradnam, speaking as ward councillor for Milton and Waterbeach, said that although the scheme is described as temporary, “40 years is half a lifetime”.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: “I respect the officer’s view but regret that the green belt protections which used to be so strong have been eroded by this concept of grey belt. I believe this development would have a degrading and industrialising impact on the countryside in this area – how can 74 hectares of glass and metal for 40 years be considered a minor adverse impact?”

Cllr Vivien Biggs, of Swavesey, said that the development couldn’t be argued to enhance the area, but they had to consider balance.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: “I think we have to be pragmatic, and obviously anybody having something like this in their back yard is not going to be particularly happy. It’s not beautiful, but we also know we don’t own the view unless we own the land.”

Cllr Heather Williams, of The Mordens, also said that planning was about “trade-offs” and there will never be a “perfect solution”.

The Conservative councillor said: “There’s merit for it in its objectives but, in my view, there’s a lot of policies it comes into conflict with. I think we need more renewable energy and I 100 per cent understand why farming communities are looking to things like solar in the current situation – but there are alternative places.”

The solar farm was approved with four voting in favour and one against.