PICTURED: Not-so-Northern Lights captured in Staffordshire
Stargazers across Staffordshire were treated to a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.
The aurora borealis was visible up and down the UK as skies cleared, painting the night sky with shades of green, purple and blue.
Some residents in the UK reported seeing the lights as far south as Oxfordshire.
In Staffordshire, Richard Holmes snapped this stunning scene over Uttoxeter.
In the image, you can clearly see the lime green tinge fading up into a dark purple.
This all sits above the golden skyline of the county.
The ethereal spectacle is caused by charged solar particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and is usually only visible in the far north of Scotland.
But a 'lucky combination' of conditions in the lower atmosphere and in space meant the phenomenon was visible across swathes of the country, including Staffordshire, Met Office space weather adviser Amanda Townsend said.
She said: "Once in a while the solar winds are enhanced to levels stronger than normal, with particles at higher speeds, and on this occasion it has connected really well with the Earth's magnetic field."
In addition to the cosmic weather being just right, conditions closer to the ground favoured those who ventured out into the cold March night.
The best snaps of the lights were taken on Sunday night.
The colourful skyline was visible again on Monday night but it was disappointment for those in Staffordshire who ventured out again last night as the lights could only be seen in the north of Scotland.
According to Ms Townsend of the Met Office, this was because the strongest part of the geomagnetic storm had passed.
