Photographers and astronomy lovers all gazed at the skies last night as a rare sighting of the Northern Lights turned Wiltshire's skies purple.

The Aurora Borealis, known to many as the Northern Lights, is a phenomenon usually reserved for more northern climates, meaning that sightings of it in the UK are uncommon.

But residents from across the county have shared pictures they took of the light show on Thursday night, October 10, across social media and with this newspaper’s Camera Club.

Photos have been sent in from every corner of the county - from Swindon to Melksham and from the Uffington White Horse to Stonehenge.

For most people in Wiltshire, the Northern Lights were slightly obscured by unfortunate clouds but still created slight purple hues which were allegedly visible even to the naked eye.

Those who missed the rare sighting shouldn't give up yet, as the Northern Lights are also expected to be visible and clearer on Friday and Saturday night, October 11 and October 12. 

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Aurora activity is expected to increase this weekend, leading to aurora potentially being visible across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England where skies are clear.

“Saturday night has the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible, with a chance that aurora may be visible further south.”

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