In pictures: Northern lights in southern England caught on camera

The northern lights provided an impressive display in the skies above the south of England overnight on Sunday.

An aurora is formed by a solar flare erupting on the Sun, sending charged particles towards Earth which interact with our atmosphere.

The most vibrant display was across Scotland and northern England where the aurora was made up of bright greens and deep reds.

But it is seldom seen in southern England.

Pictures taken by members of the public and BBC Weather Watchers captured the light phenomenon as far south as Oxfordshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A Met Office spokesperson said the rare sightings were due to the "strength" of a geomagnetic storm and the "strip of cloudless skies".

More displays are expected on Monday night where skies remain clear, according to the Met Office

Mark Cooper took this picture in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight on Sunday shortly before 22:00

Gavin Jones watched the display from Witney, Oxfordshire

Gareth Lloyd managed to capture the display with his mobile phone over Wareham

The lights creating a colourful night sky in Bursledon in this picture taken by Richard Barnes-Willis

Karen Foulkes managed to get a snap of the display in the night sky above Curdridge, Hampshire

All pictures subject to copyright.