THE REGION ground to a halt as expected this morning as millions of people stopped work to get a glimpse of the eclipse.

Sadly, thick cloud cover prevented a full view of the spectacle. But in some places, Southampton and Winchester, thousands of people, who had gathered in the streets, were lucky enough to catch a view.

Hazy cloud in Winchester made the eclipse visible and at the 11th minute of the 11th hour there were gasps in Southampton city centre as the clouds parted for a split second giving shoppers a near-perfect sight of the blocked-out sun.

All hope had seemed dashed earlier in the day when early morning sunshine gave way to billowing cloud cover.

But as the eclipse reached its maximum there was an unexpected glimpse of the rarest phenomena as the clouds gave way to haze for about five seconds.

The high street which is usually packed with hundreds of bustling holiday shoppers seemed uncannily desolate in the morning.

However as 11am drew nearer people seemed to appear from all corners to get the best vantage point for the spectacular.

Every seat, shop front and roof space was packed with people gazing skywards waiting for the experience of a life-time.

As the sky darkened and the streetlights came on people became frustrated at the thick cloud covering the sun but gasps of amazement were heard all around when the eclipse unexpectedly came into view.

Douglas Shreeve, from Frome, in Somerset, said: "I expected it to be even darker but this was a once-in-a-life-time event and it was so great to see it. It was such a pity it was not more visible."

Colin Hall, from Testwood Road, Freemantle, said: "I saw it. It was a bit disappointing because it was too cloudy."

Wayne Elliott at the Southampton Weather Centre said: "It was cloudy across the city although there were one or two holes around.

"If you were standing underneath one of those holes you would have been very, very lucky indeed."

Wayne said his colleagues assemled on the roof of the weather centre and enjoyed the event despite the cloudy conditions.

"It was good. We had a bit of a party on the roof. You could see the disc of the sun very early on.

But we get excited about anything in the meteorological game."

In Winchester those in the streets witnessed the 97 per cent eclipse. Several shops including Waterstone's booksellers closed to allow staff the chance to see the event. At the Eclipse public house in The Square a guitarist strummed and sang Moonshadow and Here Comes the Sun.

Janine Thallon, an English language teacher, said: "It was very beautiful. With the eerie light it was mystical and ethereal with a sort of stillness, a realisation that the planetary system is working as they say it is."

More than 120 people gathered at the Toothill Observatory, Rownhams, where members of the Solent Amateur Astronomers Society had laid on telescopes and screens.

Fireworks were heard on the Nursling Industrial Estate.Mum-of-three Christine Matson, from Horns Drove in Rownhams, said: "It was interesting but I'm disappointed that we didn't actually see it from here. The children were very excited about it, but we won't see it again, will we"

Society chairman Derek Haselden said: "We knew the weather would be a bit iffy but we're pleased so many people came out to see what was going on."

A Southampton International Airport special flights were being laid on to get scores of eclipse hunters to the channel Islands, in the line of totality.

Most flights were heading to Alderney. Maurice Wyatt, manager of Aurigny Air Services which runs scheduled flights to Alderney, said the 40 flights the firm had run from Saturday to today had been fully booked.

''The reports we have had back from Alderney say those who went had a full view of the eclipse,'' he said.

Portsmouth Crown Court closed for half an hour so that staff, barristers and jury members could watch the eclipse.

Breaking off a trial until after light was restored, one judge announced there would be a special break: "I don't think we're going to see very much from here though," he added.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.