Northern Lights captured on camera by Black Country snappers

The lights, also known as an aurora borealis, lit up the sky yesterday evening (Thursday, October 10), with many of our talented News Group Camera Club members managing to get some beautiful shots of the natural phenomenon.

Last night’s clear skies provided perfect conditions to capture the aurora on camera – with residents across Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen also reporting that they could also see the lights with the naked eye.

The Northern Lights seen from Mary Stevens Park, Norton. (Image: James Reed)

Some keen snappers headed out in search of an ideal darkened backdrop to capture the lights while others were lucky enough to see and photograph the aurora from their back gardens and out of their windows.

The Northern Lights seen from Milking Bank, Dudley. (Image: Melvin Cooper)

Dudley photographer Rik Freeman was among those who shared stunning images of the lights – having ventured out with his camera to the Bridgnorth countryside.

The Northern Lights captured by Rik Freeman at Alveley, near Bridgnorth. (Image: Rik Freeman / News Group Camera Club)

He said: “Conditions were perfect, clear skies and no moon. Not often that happens and when it does we get lovely northern lights.

“I was expecting things to kick off and sure enough at 9pm my phone started bouncing off the desk with aurora notifications coming through.”

The Northern Lights pictured by Rik Freeman at Alveley, near Bridgnorth (Image: Rik Freeman / News Group Camera Club)

After a 30-minute drive over to Alveley, he found the perfect spot – having managed to snap the lights there earlier in the year.

He said: “I did not need to leave the car, I stepped out of it and there it was, a massive show of lights. It was awesome and all around me, talk about spoiled for choice. No sooner had I started taking some shots another couple pulled up, saw me and figured I must be onto something!”

Meanwhile, a host of News Group Camera Club members shared images with us - including Gemma Cross who captured the aurora over Haden Cross Fire Station, Halesowen.

The Northern Lights snapped by Haden Cross Fire Station, Halesowen. (Image: Gemma Cross / News Group Camera Club)

Paul Hayes captured the pink hues of the aurora right over the rooftops in Halesowen.

The Northern Lights seen in the sky over residential rooftops in Halesowen. (Image: Paul Hayes / News Group Camera Club)

While Nicola Burns snapped the lights in the Saltwells area of Netherton.

The Northern Lights seen over the Saltwells area of Netherton, Dudley. (Image: Nicola Burns / News Group Camera Club)

Drone operator and photographer Simon Beckett from Stourbridge captured some beautiful images from the Sheepwalks, Kinver.

The Northern Lights captured on camera at The Sheepwalks, Kinver, South Staffordshire. (Image: Sabphotos69) The Northern Lights seen from The Sheepwalks, Kinver, South Staffordshire. (Image: Sabphotos69) Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles.

Light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

According to The Met Office, the aurora has been sighted as far south as southern England and on the continent due to severe geomagnetic storms.

The chance of seeing it remains but this is predicted to decrease and it’s expected a glimpse of the lights will be confined to far northern geomagnetic latitudes by October 13.