Large areas of the UK were treated to an after-hours light show courtesy of aurora borealis yesterday evening, as the Northern Lights were seen even from areas of Wales and Oxfordshire.

Normally only visible in northern parts of Scotland, the Met Office have said a ‘lucky combination’ of weather conditions led to the incredible green, pink, purple and blue lights reaching far further south than predicted.

Caused by charged solar particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field, Met Office space weather adviser Amanda Townsend, says last night’s spectacle is owing to rare order within a geomagnetic storm.

“Once in a while, the solar winds are enhanced to levels stronger than normal, with particles at higher speeds,” she explains. “On this occasion it has connected really well with the Earth's magnetic field.”

From Scotland to Wales, see these incredible pictures of aurora borealis lighting up the UK sky