RESIDENTS across the north of England observed an unusual sight over the weekend - several arcs and upside down rainbows in the sky.
According to the Met Office, they are part of a family of phenomena called haloes.
The organisation said: "Haloes require ice crystals to form - either from high cirrus cloud of free falling crystals. Typically sunlight or moonlight is reflected by ice crystals producing a white halo.
"However, if the light rays strike the light at a particular angle, some light may be refracted. In such situations the halo will have a faint colouration."
Circumzenithal arcs - optical effects which look like an upside-down rainbow - were also reported, as were parhelia, the result of sunlight passing through hexagonal ice crystals contained within cirrus cloud.
Here are some images from our readers.
Abby James (Cumbria)
Helen Murdock (Wigton)
Adrian Leadbitter (Haltwhistle)
Tracey Davey (Harlow Hill)
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