Humberside Airport flights to see the Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis is at its best during periods of solar activity

A tour company has launched flights from Humberside Airport to see the Northern Lights.

Over 100 passengers took the three hour maiden flight to northern Scotland to watch the display.

They were accompanied by a professional astronomer who explained the night's events.

The natural phenomena, also know as the Aurora Borealis, occurs when particles from the sun hit the earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. The collisions causes light to be produced.

The light display usually takes place above the Arctic Circle, near to the North Pole.

One of the tourists was the Reverend Alan Wright, the former chaplain at Scunthorpe United. He said the trip had lived up to his expectations:

"It was absolutely amazing the blackness and the myriad of stars was tremendous, and of course the Northern Lights as well was the icing on the cake. It was absolutely brilliant."