PEOPLE hoping to watch this morning's partial eclipse have been warned not to look directly at the sun or rely on sunglasses for eye protection.

Advice from the Royal Astronomical Society is to view the event through proper eclipse viewers or by turning your back to the sun and holding a kitchen colander in front of a piece of paper on to which will be projected many images of the event.

Small mirrors can also be used to reflect the image on to a darkened inside wall.

The eclipse is due to begin at approximately 8.25am and end at 10.40am.