TWO coinciding space weather patterns have heightened the chance of Northern Lights sightings in the Scottish skies for the next few weeks, according to forecasters.

The Met Office said those in Scotland, northern England, north Wales and Northern Ireland had an increased likelihood of seeing the phenomenon because of a burst of solar wind. The natural wonder is usually caused by solar particles colliding in the atmosphere.

Improved chances of a sighting were put down to the combined effect of a “coronal hole” near the sun’s equator, which aligned with Earth and was sending high-speed solar winds to buffet the planet, and the time of year.