Spectacular Northern Lights illuminate the east coast

  • Anglia
A glimpse of the Northern Lights at Happisburgh in Norfolk. Credit: Credit: James Rowley-Hill

Overnight the skies were dazzling along the east coast of the Anglia region as magnificent displays of the Aurora Borealis became visible as far south as Anglesey and Oxfordshire

One photographer quoted "I have never seen anything like it this far down the coast."

Happisbugh was a popular place to see the northern lights overnight. Credit: Russell Waite

Aurora Borealis occurs when electrically-charged particles from the Sun enter the Earth's atmosphere.

Met Office space weather adviser Amanda Townsend said a "lucky combination" of conditions had made for a fantastic display.

"Once in a while the solar winds are enhanced to levels stronger than normal, with particles at higher speeds, and on this occasion it has connected really well with the Earth's magnetic field,"