The Northern Lights have lit up the night sky with rare sightings across many areas in the country.

Residents in south east London were among those who got to catch a glimpse of the sightings last night (May 10).

The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased due to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NOAA said the G5 geomagnetic storm is the strongest level of a geomagnetic storm, hit earth on Thursday, and could affect communications, GPS, and power grids.

The cause of this storm is a “large, complex” sunspot cluster that is 17 times the diameter of earth, with the last storm with a G5 rating hitting earth in October 2003, causing power outages in Sweden.

Pictures capturing the moment have come flooding in from residents with sightings noted in Bexleyheath, Orpington, Welling, and Bromley.

Here’s what the News Shopper readers captured last night: 

News Shopper: Picture of the Northern Lights captured in south east LondonPicture of the Northern Lights captured in south east London (Image: Contributor)

News Shopper: Picture of the Northern Lights captured in south east LondonPicture of the Northern Lights captured in south east London (Image: Contributor)News Shopper: Picture of the Northern Lights captured in south east LondonPicture of the Northern Lights captured in south east London (Image: Contributor)

News Shopper: Picture of the Northern Lights captured in south east LondonPicture of the Northern Lights captured in south east London (Image: Contributor)

News Shopper: Picture of the Northern Lights captured in south east LondonPicture of the Northern Lights captured in south east London (Image: Contributor)