Brits hoping to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse on Monday 8 April have been warned not to be distracted by the spectacle while on the road.

Motorists are being urged not to take their eyes off the road when driving on Monday

Parts of the UK will be able to witness a partial solar eclipse – when the sun, moon and earth line up – including cities in the north west of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

It’ll begin at around 7:52pm in the UK – around sunset.

However, motorists are being urged not to take their eyes off the road when driving on Monday, however much they might want to gawp at the celestial display.

Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: “If you’re lucky enough to be in a region of the UK where a partial eclipse will be visible, and you want to take-in the spectacle, make sure you’re not doing so from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

“There are myriad ways a driver might become dangerously distracted during this rare event.

“It should go without saying that staring directly at the sun is to be avoided at all costs, and the risk of being temporarily blinded while on the road is all too obvious.

“If you’ve bought special darkened ‘Eclipse Glasses’ for the occasion to protect your eyes, don’t be tempted to wear them while you’re driving as your vision will be compromised to the point that you’re putting other road users at risk.

“Be prepared for sudden changes in light conditions and have your headlights switched on. It’s also wise to watch out for other distracted drivers – and pedestrians – who might be focused on the skies and not the traffic around them.”

Select Car Leasing also pointed out that taking photos while behind the wheel of a car is also a major no-no.

Anyone caught using their phone, for example, to snap pics while driving faces a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. The fine could even run to £1,000 if the case is taken to court.