CUMBRIA had front row seats for a spectacular display of the Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis , as they are also known, drew people outside on Wednesday as the sky turned dazzling shades of green, yellow and purple. And, for those who missed it, the Met Office says there is a good chance of seeing the show again in the coming weeks because of two coinciding space weather patterns .

The natural wonder is usually caused by solar particles colliding in the atmosphere. The improved chances of a sighting were also put down to the combined effect of a “coronal hole” near the Sun’s equator, which had aligned with Earth and was sending high-speed solar winds to buffet the planet, and the time of year.

A Met Office spokesman added: “ The strength of the disturbance directly relates to how far south the aurora is visible, or how far north if you are in the southern hemisphere, and Of course you need clear skies to see it.”