• See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source

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 shortly after 18:00 BST, the shadow of the moon will slowly slide across the sun until it covers up to 96 per cent of the surface.

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

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