Northern Lights to be visible over UK on Wednesday night

Spectacle said to be visible across the country

Northern Lights over Bamburgh lighthouse, Northumberland, in September (PA)

Skies above the UK are set to turn technicolour on Wednesday night with the rare arrival of the Northern Lights.

Aurora Watch UK has issued an alert saying the spectacle will be visible all over the country both to the naked eye and on camera.

Yet the colours will only be visible away from the light pollution in areas surrounding towns and cities.

Over the past few nights, clear skies have allowed some skygazers to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, with those in northern Scotland having the best chances of spotting it.

The Northern Lights occur when particles emitted by the sun collide with molecules in the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere.

The colour of the light depends on what kind of gases the particles hit, with oxygen glowing green when it is hit 60 miles above the Earth. At 100 to 200 miles high it glows red, while nitrogen emits blue and purple light.

The Met Office said the chances of seeing the lights were increased during autumn and spring, due to the angle of the earth's magnetic poles and the direction of solar wind.

Yet a solar storm, caused by a hole in the outer layer of the sun, has reportedly made the phenomenon visible from more locations this year.