A super light show lit up the sky over north Cumbria last night - before the mist came down and spoiled it.

News & Star photographer Stuart Walker was on hand to snap the spectacular display.

The aurora borealis - also known as the northern lights - were clearly visible above areas of northern England and Scotland.

The aurora are caused by a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun and interacting with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

As the stream - or solar wind - approaches, Earth's magnetic field is distorted allowing some or the particles to enter the atmosphere.

These particles make gases in the atmosphere glow.