Millions of people crowded cloudless cities and towns in Spain on Wednesday in search of the best views of a total solar eclipse, when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will briefly plunge parts of the planet into darkness.

Moon is due to pass directly between Earth and sun on Wednesday 12 August. Here’s all you need to know

Total solar eclipse to spellbind Europe | Travel

This will be mainland Europe's first total eclipse since 2006, and the first in mainland Spain since 1900.