SCIENTISTS have predicted that the Northern Lights could be visible as far south as the Cotswolds tonight.

The natural light display, which usually takes place in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, may be visible to Cotswold stargazers in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Joe Kunches, of the Space Weather Prediction Centre, said: “The geomagnetic storm that drives the aurora structure south is beginning right now.

“We’re not sure how strong the storm will be but if it follows predictions there’s a good chance of seeing in it southern Britain.”

The Northern Lights appear as shimmering green waves of light when atoms in the Earth’s high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the sun.

Stargazers in the Cotswolds will only be able to see the lights if the skies remain clear.