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Northern Lights dazzle in North East and Cumbria

Reuters The Northern Lights glowing red and lighting up the Angel of the North, as someone standing behind takes a picture.Reuters
Gateshead's Angel of the North

The Northern Lights have once again been visible across large swathes of north-east England and Cumbria.

According to BBC Weather, it was the strongest and most widespread show of lights in the UK since May.

The phenomenon, also known as aurora borealis, occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles. Scientists have likened it to "a big sneeze by the Sun".

As the particles collide with the gases, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

People from across the region sent images to the BBC.

Holy Island, at Northumberland, saw particularly vivid skies, while the Lake District was another spot for dramatic illuminations.

PA Media Two people taking photographs near a white hut, raised on stilts. The sky is lit red and green.PA Media
The refuge hut on the causeway leading to Holy Island, Northumberland
Mark Hetherington A stone shelter on a hillside. Above the building there is colourful curtain of light - to the left are red lights, while to the right are green lights.Mark Hetherington
Warnscale Bothy in Buttermere, Cumbria
Ian McClelland Silhouette of a person reaching to the sky with one hand. The sky is lit with different colours including shades of red, purple, green and blue.Ian McClelland
Newbottle, Sunderland
PA Media Dramatic red, pink and green light above a silhouette of a castle. Three small boats are on the water can be seen in the foreground.PA Media
Holy Island, Northumberland
Daphne Eddington Purple skies behind an old-fashioned, black-and-white signpost pointing to Keswick, Buttermere and Whinlatter Pass.Daphne Eddington
Braithwaite, Cumbria
Mark Hetherington Red and green lights in the sky above a tarn.Mark Hetherington
Tewet Tarn near Keswick, Cumbria
Jonathan Kellager A small boat on a trailer is parked on the left-hand side of the image, Behind it is Cullercoats lifeboat station, a brick building. The sky has red and green streaks of light.Jonathan Kellager
Cullercoats, North Tyneside
Nigel Craig A silhouette of a tree, as red and green lights swirl in the sky. Nigel Craig
Threlkeld, Cumbria
Carolyn Farthing-Dunn A war memorial and trees in silhouette against a purple and green sky.Carolyn Farthing-Dunn
Shotley Bridge, County Durham
B Dabbous Red and purple skies above a street lined with houses. Cars are parked outside some of the properties.B Dabbous
Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees

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