The Northern Lights appeared over Stockport borough yesterday evening (Thursday 10 October) in dramatic fashion.

The Lights - also known as Aurora Borealis - were visible across the UK following a massive solar storm.

The solar storm in this case was caused by a 'coronal mass ejection' - that's when the sun "burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds".

This burst collides with the earth's magnetic field, exciting and reacting with the particles within it.

It is this that produces the remarkable colours and patterns, which we in Stockport were treated to yesterday evening.

The solar wind - or 'burp' - highlighted in yellow, fires from the sun and collides with the Earth's magnetic field (Image - NASA / Public Domain)

Solar activity is now weakening, although it might still be possible to see the lights this evening (Friday 11 October), BBC Weather reports.

Residents across the borough reported sightings in central Stockport, in Heaton Chapel, Mellor Cross, and more.

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