GLORIOUS sunshine hailed Venus' transit across the sun today.The planet passed across the face of the sun between 6.20am and 12.20pm amid clear and sunny skies.

GLORIOUS sunshine hailed Venus' transit across the sun today.

The planet passed across the face of the sun between 6.20am and 12.20pm amid clear and sunny skies.

Perfect conditions for the hundreds of astronomers who gathered across the country to hail the historic event which hasn't occurred since 1882.

The last time it would have been observable in its entirety from the UK was in 1283. On that occasion, long before the invention of the telescope, the phenomenon went unnoticed.

A Venus transit is similar to a solar eclipse, except that it is the planet Venus rather than the moon that passes between the sun and the Earth.

But with blazing sunshine causing many to squint away and experts reminding of the dangers of staring at the sun, most people had to settle for watching the spectacle on television.

Many in Ipswich were hoping to spend the day basking under the sun rather than looking at it though, with temperatures in the town expected to hit more than 27C according to Star weatherman Ken Blowers.

He said: "This is the hottest morning we have had in Ipswich since last Autumn. At 8am it was 74f, 23C. The top temperature today will be at least 80F which is 27C.

The sky was expected to stay clear throughout the day and night though Mr Blowers predicted a ten per cent chance of a thunder storm this evening.

Temperatures will begin to fall tomorrow with a the Met Office anticipating a pleasant 22C maximum in part cloudy skies.

Mr Blowers added: "It will be the last day of intense heat today, tomorrow and the days after will be cooler with temperatures down to 74F 23C."

By Thursday some rain will mix with the sunshine with temperatures expected to stay above the 20C mark.

By the weekend however temperatures will drop to a maximum of 19C on Saturday with partially cloudy skies though no rain is currently forecast.