'I'm really chuffed to have seen a snowbow'

Walkers across the UK have been sharing stunning images of a rare weather phenomenon, known as a "snowbow".

According to BBC weather presenter Richard Davis, a "snowbow" forms when light is refracted through snowflakes in the air.

Unlike "snowbows", a rainbow is formed when sunlight is scattered by water droplets - a process known as refraction, in which the light is split into different colours.

A snow rainbow, or snowbow, is very similar. But instead of light being scattered as it shines through water droplets, it is refracted through snowflakes in the air.

Typically, snowbow colours are muted or faint because snowflakes are much poorer at refraction due to their highly-complex shape.

Snowbows are rare and usually appear at sunrise or sunset when it is snowing.

Vanessa Wells Holland spotted a "snowbow" near Ilam, in Staffordshire, on Tuesday, and said she quickly grabbed her iPhone to take a few photos.

She said: "I was brushing off the drive and there it was, in the sky. Just stunning.

"I'm really chuffed to see such a rare thing."

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