Clouds put damper on hopes of blood moon sightings in UK

Lunar observers foiled as thunderclouds obscure rare phenomenon for most of UK

Stargazers across the globe were treated to the longest celestial event of the 21st century on Friday as a lunar eclipse turned the moon bright red.

But UK-based astronomers were left disappointed because, after weeks of uninterrupted sunshine, thunderstorms and banks of cloud obscured the skies, dashing many people's hopes of catching a glimpse of the "blood moon".