Northern Lights glow in the East skies

This striking image was captured by a BBC Weather Watcher in Somerton in Norfolk

The Northern Lights were spotted glowing in the night skies across parts of the East of England in the early hours of Tuesday.

BBC Weather Watchers and night owls in Norfolk and Northamptonshire were able to capture a spectacular display as pink and blue colours filled the sky.

The aurora borealis is caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere.

According to the British Geological Survey, there are bigger Northern Lights displays around the equinoxes (March-April and September-October), because there are more magnetic storms during those periods.

The Met Office Space Weather Centre suggested the increased solar activity could continue into Tuesday night.

Hunstanton's lighthouse stands proud against the bright pink sky

This was taken in Barnwell in Northamptonshire at about 03:25 BST

This was captured in Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast just before 03:00 BST

This beautiful scene was seen in Somerton in Norfolk, taken at about 03:45 BST

Barnwell's skies proved a treat for this photographer

Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast at about 00:20 BST