13298/3GAZETTE & HERALD: Hundreds of space enthusiasts crowded on to Chippenham town bridge on Tuesday morning to take up the once in a lifetime chance to view Venus passing in front of the sun.

The last transit of Venus took place in 1882, while the next to be visible from Britain will not take place until 2247.

On Tuesday, it took the planet a little more than six hours to pass over the sun and it appeared as a black dot on the golden orb.

Viewings were set up in Chippenham, outside the Fizz Bar and in Riverside Park, by the Wiltshire Astronomical Society. Because of the dangers of looking at the sun direct, the viewing telescope and other equipment were fitted with solar filters.

Organiser Andy Burns said it was a great success. "We had people in their hundreds turning up from 6am," he said. "Some people turned up a little bit disappointed at 12.30pm having just missed it.

"We saw everything from beginning to end from the first contact to the last contact. There we were, seeing it all from Chippenham. It was fabulous."

Chippenham was chosen because the society wanted to bring astronomy to the public.

"There is terrible light pollution in Chippenham at night and we normally meet in Lacock but because this was a daytime viewing it was the perfect opportunity," said Mr Burns.

"This was a chance of a lifetime for those that came."