In pictures: Halos around the sun illuminate the sky

Image source, Freddy/ Weather Watchers

Image caption, Freedy took this picture of a halo in John O'Groats

Weather watchers have been capturing some spectacular images of a circle of lights around the sun in the skies above the north of Scotland.

大象传媒 meteorologist Chris Fawkes said the halos are caused by ice crystals high in the atmosphere.

He added: "All the photos actually have a complete cover of Cirrostratus cloud made of ice crystals, these ice crystals reflect and refract the sunlight to produce these optical phenomena."

The same effect is sometimes seen when it is a clear night with a full moon and the thin layer of cirrus moves across the moonlit sky.

Image source, Alan G/ Weather Watchers

Image caption, Alan sent in this shot from Nether Button in the Orkney Islands

Image source, The Dubs/ 大象传媒 Weather Watchers

Image caption, The Dubs took this picture in Forres, Moray

Image source, Lisa@Lethan/ Weather Watchers

Image caption, Lisa captured this image in Nairn