Spectacular images of the Northern Lights illuminating night sky across UK

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Tom Marshall8 October 2015

These stunning images captured the incredible scenes last night as the Northern Lights made a rare appearance in the UK.

The natural wonder known as the Aurora Borealis was witnessed across swathes of Britain overnight.

People living in Scotland, northern parts of England and Wales and even as far south as Norfolk were treated to the amazing light show.

Forecasters said the relatively uncommon scenes were possible because of two coinciding space weather patterns - and such sightings may continue for the next few weeks.

The spectacle is created by activity on the surface of the sun and is usually visible around the Arctic Circle, but "high-speed solar winds" and a phenomenon known as a "coronal hole" near the Sun's equator had combined to bring it further south.

A Met Office spokesman said: "We are now in a period, lasting a few weeks, where these two factors are working together to increase the chances of geomagnetic disturbances, which in turn bring with them the aurora.

"The strength of the disturbance directly relates to how far south the aurora is visible, or how far north if you are in the southern hemisphere, and of course you need clear skies to see it.

"The season of the year has an influence. The science behind this is not fully understood, but the two equinoctial periods in spring and autumn tend to produce an increase in aurora compared with winter and summer."

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