A STARGAZING session at Hillworth Park, Devizes, on Saturday, proved a headturner.

Although the English weather was typically unco-operative, with clear skies clouding over just a couple of hours before the event was due to take place, about 70 people, young and old, turned up for the evening supported by Greenacres Observatory, Green Lane.

Carole Berry, services manager at Devizes Town Council, which organised the event, said: “It was very successful.

“We were expecting half that number of people to turn up and the atmosphere was very happy and relaxed.”

Staff from the Richmond Fellowship, which runs the Greenacres Garden and Observatory, came along with 16in and 12in reflector telescopes.

They also brought a number of pairs of binoculars for local people to take a glimpse at the stars that were visible through the clouds.

The evening took place to coincide with the BBC’s Stargazing Live series of programmes with Dara O Briain and Brian Cox and the town council is planning to repeat the event next year.

Mrs Berry said: “Because it was so successful, we have decided to run it for three nights next year alongside the BBC programmes.”

For more information about Saturday’s event and the other work of the Greenacres Observatory, email daniel.odonoghue@richmondfellowship.org.uk