Millions prepare to watch first full eclipse of the century amid fears of disruption around the country

In the next hour Britain's skies will start to go dark as the first solar eclipse of this century begins - but millions may be left disappointed because a blanket of cloud is sitting across much of the UK.

This morning at around 8.24am the Moon will begin to move between us and the Sun, peaking at around 9.30am, and ending at 10.48am.

The Sun's light will almost be totally concealed, casting a huge shadow of the Moon across the nation that will turn day to night, but watchers must not look directly at the Sun because they risk damaging their eyes.

In Scotland, where up to 98 per cent of the Sun will be covered, forecasters are predicting rain and cloud, with some predicting that up to 40million of the population may be unable to see it.

Forecasters believe that Lincolnshire and the Midlands through to southern parts of Wales might be treated to the best celestial show as the moon moves in front of the sun at around 9.30am, covering up to 97 per cent of its surface.

                     
Waiting game: A photographer prepares for the solar eclipse in Nottinghamshire - with experts saying the south-west and the Midlands may be the best place you can view it because of cloud cover

                        

There is also a possibility that northern parts of the South West Peninsula - including Devon and Somerset - will also see clouds part in time for the lunar phenomenon.

But there will be pockets of clear-skies across Britain, meaning people may still be lucky.

Met Office forecaster Kate Brown said: 'The south-east corner is currently overcast and is going to stay that way into the time of the eclipse. But even if people don't see it happening they will still be able to sense it getting darker during that time.'

Cloud is likely to cover the rest of the country, becoming thicker in the north - but no one can predict when there might be a curtain-raising break in the cloud at any given location in the UK.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: 'Forecasting exactly where cloud will break and re-form is really not scientifically possible. But it's not as thick in the south as further north, so you're more likely to see breaks in the cloud the further south you are.'

It is not unknown for a fleeting break in cloud to occur during an eclipse as the atmosphere cools.

Read more here