Stunning pictures of Northern Lights across the North East

From Darlington and Bishop Auckland to Consett, Middlesbrough, and Thirsk, lucky stargazers have captured the spectacle far and wide this evening (Thursday, October 10). 

Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the stunning lights are caused by solar storms reacting with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. 

The Met Office said earlier today that there was a "decent chance" for the lights to make an appearance on Thursday evening due to clear skies - with the most likely areas being in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

But thankfully the luck was on the side of the North East - with hoards of residents from across the region sending in their fantastic photos of the lit up sky. 

Here are just some pictures of the Northern Lights this evening: 

The Northern Lights at Bolam in County Durham (Image: Jake Lawson / Northern Echo Camera Club)

The Northern Lights at Bolam in County Durham (Image: Jake Lawson / Northern Echo Camera Club)

The Northern Lights at Bolam in County Durham (Image: Jake Lawson / Northern Echo Camera Club)

The Northern Lights at Bolam in County Durham (Image: Jake Lawson / Northern Echo Camera Club)

The Northern Lights at Bolam in County Durham (Image: Jake Lawson / Northern Echo Camera Club)

Bishop Auckland (Image: Jordan Eley) Brandon (Image: Maxine Minxy Sykes)

Ferryhill (Image: Adele Simpson)

Aurora Borealis over Whitley Bay tonight (Image: Raoul Dixon / NNP)

Aurora Borealis over Whitley Bay tonight (Image: Raoul Dixon / NNP)

Waskerley, Co Durham (Image: Viv Williams) Darlington (Image: Beata Barbara Kocurek) Darlington (Image: Sharon Graham) Chilton (Image: Luci Rundle) Thirsk (Image: Emma Richardson) Willington (Image: Victoria Sewell) Seaton Carew (Image: Jools Conboy-Aspinall) Bishop Auckland (Image: Suzanne Wearmouth)

Stanhope (Image: Kathryn Lowe-Oliver) Woodland Fell (Image: Kimberley Walker) Stanhope (Image: Leanne Fletcher)

Spennymoor (Image: Sue Gallant)

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon previously said there was a chance of some visible auroras across parts of the UK on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday.

He added that there was still “some uncertainty” as to when exactly the auroras would be visible - but it seems they have been visible from around 8pm onwards.

Mr Dixon told the PA news agency: “When it does reach Earth, there are likely aurora sightings in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a chance of some sightings in the north of England and slightly further south.

“Even in the Midlands too, if you’ve got a camera with particularly long exposure that can highlight some of the auroras that are happening overhead.

“The further north you are, the more likely you are to get good visibility.”