THE Northern Lights welcomed in the New Year with another spectacle enjoyed by residents across the UK.

The Aurora Borealis previously made an appearance in August followed by a bold show at the beginning of October, lighting up night skies across Somerset after a period of stormy weather.

Having been a rare phenomenon until recently, the aurora appeared once again, lasting until the early hours of Thursday (January 2). While it featured prominently from Northern Scotland to South Wales, the lights could be seen across the UK.

The arrival of such lights shows is caused by magnetic storms that have been triggered by solar activity. Due to an expected increase in the sun’s activity through the 2020s, it is likely that such displays will continue with the influx of solar storms.

Weather warnings follow the aurora with heavy rain, wind and some snow predicted for the South West over the weekend (January 4-5).