PEOPLE with an interest in astronomy in Ludlow and south Shropshire and Tenbury and the Teme Valley have been watching the transit of Mercury.

This is when the smallest of the planets passes directly between the sun and the earth and happens about six times every 100 years.

Mercury is the smallest planet and closest to the sun and appears as a small dot – much smaller than many sunspots – darker patches on the face of the sun.

This photograph showing the early stages of the transit was taken by Advertiser reporter Adrian Kibbler from his own telescope using projection.

Never ever should anyone look directly at the sun.