23 January 2012 Last updated at 14:42

Northern Lights: Your Pictures

The Northern Lights, seen at Saltburn Pier, Cleveland. Photo: Richard Glover/Michelle Bennett

The Aurora Borealis, known as The Northern Lights, have been visible across areas of the UK and were seen as far south as Saltburn in Cleveland: "It wasn't really visible to look at, but you could see a smudge in the sky so we knew where to point the camera." Photo: Richard Glover/Michelle Bennett

The Northern Lights seen near Gairloch, Scotland. Photo: Mark Appleton

Further north, near Gairloch in Scotland, Mark Appleton saw the lights shine brightly: "It wasn't as spectacular as the first time I saw them. This was the third time I've seen the lights since we moved up here." Photo: Mark Appleton

The Northern Lights seen near St Andrews, Scotland. Photo: David Woodford

David Woodford saw them near St Andrews in Scotland: "I've been out before but this is the first time I've actually seen the Northern Lights. My wife was watching TV, so I thought I would keep popping out to take pictures - it was freezing out." Photo: David Woodford

The Northern Lights seen over the Eden Estuary, Scotland. Photo: David Woodford

"I live on a hill to the west of St Andrews, overlooking the Eden Estuary so you see towards Tayside and Dundee. You take the photos in the dark and hope it comes out. You can't even tell if the tripod is level. You can't really tell if it's good until you get home." Photo: David Woodford

The Northern lights seen at Holy Island, Northumberland. Photo: Heather McGrath

Heather McGrath drove up to Holy Island in Northumberland to get her first glimpse of the aurora and admits to "a moment of feeling very insignificant in the universe" as she watched them. Photo: Heather McGrath

The Northern lights seen at Holy Island, Northumberland with Berwick glowing in the distance. Photo: Heather McGrath

"The glow in the distance is Berwick and you could see an amazing cherry red banding around the green," says Heather McGrath, who shed a tear at seeing such a beautiful sight. Photo: Heather McGrath

The phenomenon is caused by charged gas particles flowing away from the sun as a solar wind interacting with the earth's magnetic field. This picture was taken from Cresswell Beach in Northumberland, by Lee Jennings.

St Mary's lighthouse at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Photo: Thomas Heaton

St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, is framed by the northern lights in this photograph by Thomas Heaton. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. For terms and conditions please see bbc.co.uk/terms.

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Northern Lights: Your Pictures

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