TWO photographers are hoping to be the first to take pictures of a solar eclipse by drone.

Drone pilots Matt Harris, of Thurrock, and Alistair Gillan, 47, of Chelmsford, will be travelling up to the Faroe Islands, which lie north-west of Scotland in the North Atlantic, to attempt to take photos of the next solar eclipse, on March 20.

The challenge will take place from the Cruise and Maritime Voyages Magellan cruise ship to put them in the best possible position to take the photographs of the eclipse.

Mr Harris, 45, who has been taking photographs using drones for the last 18 months, said: “A drone is like a remote control helicopter which has propellers and a high resolution camera.

“When we heard about the eclipse happening next month we just knew we had to try and film it by drone.

“Drones are huge news right now with seemingly everyone using them to film everything from weddings to Hollywood movies.

“The last solar eclipse was in 2008 in Russia and we know that widespread drone technology wasn’t around then.

“So, as far as we’re aware this really is a world first.

“A lot of people have asked what the difference is filming the eclipse by drone and to us this is a bit of an unknown.

“The last partial solar eclipse in October 2014 saw an enormous solar flare occur on the surface of the sun.

“Will a solar flare during totality affect the compass or GPS or onboard electronics?

“We really don’t know.

“We don’t expect it to but we’re in unknown territory here!

“One thing is for certain though, the sky will go dark and we’ll be there when it does."

As the eclipse is expected to last for only two minutes and 47 seconds and the weather in the North Atlantic is unpredictable, the pressure is high but Mr Harris and Mr Gillan, who both completed a test flight on Monday, are determined to get the best shot they can.

Mr Harris said: “Our drones can only fly for 11 minutes with a camera on board too so there is only a small window to get into position too.

“A total solar eclipse is one of those amazing phenomena few people ever get to witness, so to be able to incorporate the latest cutting edge drone technology at the same time is really quite special.

“It’s quite a responsibility – but it’s also very exciting.”