Scots stargazers on Northern Lights alert

STARGAZERS in northern England and Scotland would be wise to look up on Friday night for a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights.

The aurora borealis pictured above Whitley Bay. The phenomenon will be seen in Scotland and northern England. Picture: PA

Two solar flares have heightened the chances of the phenomenon, known as the aurora borealis, being spotted but forecasters warned fog and low-hanging cloud could hamper the view of those living inland.

The first of two coronal mass ejections, huge bubbles of gas from the sun, hit the earth’s atmosphere overnight, according to the Space Weather Prediction Centre in the US.

A statement on its website said “storming” could even go on until Sunday, September 14.

Nick Prebble, forecaster for MeteoGroup, said residents living in the north of the UK had the best chance to see the illuminations.

“Scotland and possibly the north of England could see the Northern Lights depending on clear skies and light pollution,” he said.

“The weather is a mixed bag with some mist and low cloud tending to form in the early hours, especially inland.

“The best chance is probably towards coastal areas and there will be some clear spots.