People across the Northern Hemisphere have been enjoying the celestial display of the Aurora Borealis - or Northern Lights.

The phenomenon is caused by eruptions on the surface of the Sun, and this most recent activity has been unexpectedly strong.

People in the north of the United Kingdom have been sending the BBC images of the light show, as they saw it on Tuesday night.

Image copyright Ade Fisher Image caption Ade Fisher captured this example of the lights in Whitehaven Harbour, Cumbria

Image copyright Barry Hughes Image caption The lights above Slemish mountain in County Antrim, Northern Ireland turned green for St Patrick's Day

Image copyright Steven Williams Image caption Cumbria's skies turned shades of green and purple as a result of the geomagnetic storm, which causes the phenomenon

Image copyright Chris Murray Image caption The unexpectedly strong geomagnetic storm meant the lights - seen here in Lewis in the Western Isles - spread far and wide

Image copyright Chris Murray Image caption Such solar activity can sometimes cause disruption to satellite communications, but there are no such reports of this occurring so far