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AURORA-SOME SIGHT

Northern Lights pictures show natural wonder ablaze in the skies across Britain last night

A dazzling display of light and colour from the aurora borealis was visible as far south a NORFOLK as an intense solar storm smashed into the Earth

THE skies above Britain were ablaze with a dazzling display of light and colour in the early hours today as an intense solar storm brought the Northern Lights as far south as NORFOLK.

Stunning pictures taken last night and this morning show the aurora borealis lighting up the horizon from East Anglia to the Scottish Highlands.

Green spikes of the Northern Lights light up the horizon as seen from the North Yorkshire and County Durham border in the early hours of this morning
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Green spikes of the Northern Lights light up the horizon as seen from the North Yorkshire and County Durham border in the early hours of this morningCredit: North News and Pictures
The stunning aurora was also visible from Cley beach in North Norfolk last night before clouds got in the way
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The stunning aurora was also visible from Cley beach in North Norfolk last night before clouds got in the wayCredit: Matthew Usher Photography
A colourful Northern Lights display last night over the Cairngorms, Scotland
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A colourful Northern Lights display last night over the Cairngorms, ScotlandCredit: Twitter

One of the best views came at the border of North Yorkshire and County Durham when the clouds briefly parted to reveal flickering neon orange and bright green.

A handful of onlookers braved the chilly weather hoping to see the rare spectacle and watched spellbound as nature put on a brilliant light show.

Skygazers also captured colourful displays in Cley, Norfolk, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, and Cairngorm, Scotland.

North News photographer Paul Kingston said 'I have taken pictures of the Northern Lights before, but their beauty
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North News photographer Paul Kingston said 'I have taken pictures of the Northern Lights before, but their beautyCredit: North News and Pictures
The aurora borealis flashes in the sky over St Mary's Island near Whitley Bay, Northumberland
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The aurora borealis flashes in the sky over St Mary's Island near Whitley Bay, NorthumberlandCredit: PA:Press Association Wire

Forecasters had promised a rare view of the Northern Lights could be seen across the UK and much of the world overnight as a strong solar storm blasted the Earth.

A coronal ejection shoots particles out into space - called the solar wind - and when they smash into the Earth's atmosphere they give off bright colours in shimmering patterns near the magnetic poles.

Normally the aurora borealis is only visible near the Arctic - with a matching aurora australis display at the South Pole - but it can stretch to lower latitudes when solar activity is especially intense.

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North News photographer Paul Kingston, who took the pictures on a hill in North Yorks this morning,  said: "I have an app on my phone which lets me know when a sunspot has erupted.

"There's always the chance these eruptions might lead to a display of the aurora, so I kept an eye on conditions.

"It was quite cloudy last night so I was worried that I wouldn't get to see the lights.

"Thankfully there was a break in the clouds and I managed to snap these pictures.

"I have taken pictures of the Northern Lights before, but their beauty never fails to astound me."

Last night's solar storm was so strong that forecasters in the US warned it could knock out power grids and communication satellites.

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