New Year Northern Lights caught on camera

The Northern Lights were visible over Derbyshire and other parts of the East Midlands on New Year's Day

Skies over the East Midlands lit up on Wednesday night in the first display of the Northern Lights of 2025.

The phenomena, also known as aurora borealis, brought out many photographers hoping to capture the multicoloured lights.

BBC Weather Watchers managed to take some stunning pictures of the lights over Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Increased solar activity in recent months has meant displays have become more frequent - giving more people an opportunity to enjoy the celestial event.

Ashbourne in Derbyshire

The Northern Lights happen when charged particles are blasted from the Sun and then collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

According to the Met Office, the displays often appear pale green, pink, shades of red, yellow, blue and violet.

Flocking to see the spectacle in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire

On Wednesday, the lights appeared in bright shades of pink, captured by those who braved the cold conditions.

Newtown Linford in Leicestershire

The display was still visible in some cloudier areas on Wednesday night, such as in Loughborough (pictured) in Leicestershire