In pictures: Saharan dust casts an eerie glow

There were some striking skies spotted over the east of England as a plume of Saharan dust drifted into airspace above the UK.

The dust has been drawn north by southerly winds following Storm Regina which hit the Iberian Peninsula.

Made up of fine sand and mineral particles it has travelled thousands of miles on warm air currents.

A high concentration of particles can filter the light creating an otherworldly glow as captured by the BBC Weather Watchers.

At its peak the dust-filled skies extended across most of England. By Saturday morning the cloud will have moved out across the North Sea. But with rain in the forecast between now and then we could still see some “blood rain”.

When Saharan dust mixes with rain it creates what is commonly known as blood rain.

Tiny dust particles suspended in the atmosphere are captured by raindrops and deposited onto surfaces, leaving a thin, gritty, reddish-brown residue.