Northern Lights glow in the East skies

A sky is lit up in shades of pink and lilac. There are trees and bushes in silhouette against the night skyBBC Weather Watchers/KeepOnRunning

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.

A white lighthouse is pictured to the right against a night sky that is brightly lit with pink lightJulie Smart

Hunstanton's lighthouse stands proud against the bright pink sky

A night sky is lit up brightly in shade of pink and purple. On the horizon are some trees and shrubsBBC Weather Watchers/andyaurorahunter

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

A dark sky is lit in yellow near the horizon, rising to a striking red and pink colourBBC Weather Watchers/Simon Luckman 1988

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

A sky is lit up in shades of pink and lilac. There are trees and bushes in silhouette against the night skyBBC Weather Watchers/KeepOnRunning

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

A night sky is lit up brightly in shade of pink and purple. There is a large bollowy white cloud in the sky and on the horizon are some trees and shrubsBBC Weather Watchers/andyaurorahunter

Barnwell's skies proved a treat for this photographer

image shows the aurora borealis as a deep pink scad on the sky and the shoreline belowBBC Weather Watchers/Simon Luckman 1988

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

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