'Moon halo' spotted in the skies above the UK

The halo was seen over the skies in Surrey on Saturday night

A "lunar halo", a bright ring around the Moon, was spotted across England on Saturday night.

The phenomenon was seen in the night skies above Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire and the Isle of Wight.

It's caused by the refraction of moonlight, which happens when light changes direction, or bends, when it moves from one material to another.

In this instance, moonlight refracts when it passes through ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

The halo as seen in Kendal, Cumbria

Also spotted over Poole's Old Town in Dorset

According to the Met Office, which monitors UK weather, the halo sometimes means rainfall is on its way.

"The halo is caused by ice crystals formed in high clouds," the Met Office said.

"These ice crystals then refract the light from the Moon or Sun.

"In summer months particularly, the Halo can be a sign of approaching storms."

Some of those who witnessed the phenomenon described it as "amazing", while others said it was "very weird" and "like a night time rainbow".