East of England treated to show of Northern Lights

Parts of the UK got a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights last night. The spectacular red and green lights of the Aurora Borealis lit up skies as far south as Essex, along with parts of Norfolk.

The lights were also visible in parts of Scotland.

Barry Wiiliams from Sheringham who took this photo and sent it to us here at ITV News Anglia said. "I'm only an amateur photographer, was a bit shocked by this event, the first time I've seen the Aurora."

The display occurs when explosions on the surface of the Sun hurl huge amounts of charged particles into space, according to the British Geological Survey.

Those thrown to earth are captured by its magnetic field and guided towards the geomagnetic polar regions.

Charged particles collide with gas molecules in the atmosphere and the subsequent energy is given off as light.

If you have managed to take a picture of the Northern Lights where you are, why not email them to ITV News Anglia

anglianews@itv.com or angliaweather@itv.com

More pictures of the Northern Lights from elsewhere in the UK