STARGAZERS were treated to a rare display of the Northern Lights when they lit up South Lakeland’s skies at the weekend.

The phenomenon - rarely seen in Britain - was captured on camera in both Coniston and Kendal as locals left behind town centres to catch a glimpse of the light display.

“It wasn’t visible to the naked eye,” said amateur photographer, Graham Kidd, who ventured to Torver Common with his Nikon D7000 camera.

“It was just the camera that picked it up.

“I couldn’t see much at all but luckily the camera picked up the colours.”

He took seven photographs using a a 17-55mm lens at around 9.50pm, which showed a white haze across a dark purple sky.

He said after only five minutes the feint display vanished.

“It wasn’t long at all.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen them in this country though and it’s rare they come this far south.”

The Barrow resident has previously seen the display in Norway in January.

The lights - or Aurora Borealis - was also captured at the weekend from Scout Scar, Kendal.