Stunning pictures show Northern Lights over Herefordshire

The county has been treated to the incredible sight several times in recent months, and Hereford Times readers have been out and about with their cameras to capture the spectacle.

The Northern Lights over Fencote, Herefordshire (Image: Harry Chaplain) The incredible sight was photographed by people across the county on October 10, as the colour show danced across Herefordshire's skies.

Hergest Ridge (Image: Francesca Gardner)

The Met Office had said that parts of the UK would have a “decent chance” of seeing the Northern Lights on Thursday night, with relatively clear skies forecast for much of the UK creating a “decent chance of visibility”.

Ledbury area (Image: Claire Watkins) A Met Office spokesman said there had been “more space weather events in recent months”, including the Northern Lights, because the sun was nearing the peak of its solar cycle.

Clehonger (Image: Chris Prosser)

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said there was a chance of some visible auroras across parts of the UK on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday.

Eastnor (Image: Andy Richardson)

He added that there was still “some uncertainty” as to when exactly the auroras would be visible.

Sutton St Nicholas (Image: Richard Lewis)

He added that further residual viewings could be possible over the weekend, however, this is likely to be confined to Scotland.

Colwall Church (Image: Andy Richardson)

Mr Dixon said rain and cloud would also obscure some viewing potential this weekend, meaning Thursday night was the “main focus in terms of any aurora visibility”.

Kings Acre (Image: Nathan Hodges)

The auroras on Earth, which are most commonly seen over high polar latitudes but can often spread south to be visible over parts of the UK, are chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the sun.

The sun works on a cycle of around 11 years called the solar cycle – with peak sunspot activity on the surface of the sun referred to as solar maximum.

(Image: Tony Dell) Sunspots give the potential for Earth-directed releases of large bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections, which can lead to aurora visibility.

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.

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

Hereford Racecourse (Image: Billie Jones)