A METEOR shower prompted scores of people to call Solent coastguards who were reporting seeing lights in the sky.

Coastguards were inundated with calls from the public who rang in concerned about seeing green and white lights.

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A spokesman for the service said: “Around 10pm last night we did receive numerous calls from the public reporting seeing the lights.

"They must have thought it was flares being sent up or something, but we believe it was a meteor shower.”

The shower is expected to still be visible tonight, as part of an annual celestial show.

Star gazers have been treated to a display of lights darting across the skies for the past two nights that are known as the June Lyrids, as they usually make their appearance this month.

Isle of Wight Sector manager for HM Coastguard Mike Forsyth-Caffrey said: "They are always expected at this time of year and they do make quite a sight.

"They are only around the size of a pea but as they burn the gases around them emit bright lights. I saw orange, green and white ones myself."

The June Lyrids were predicted to peak at the start of the week but according to Mr Forsyth-Caffery there could still be some activity in the night time skies for the next couple of days.

Meteor showers happen when the earth passes through dust left by comets and asteroids, causing the debris to burn. The June Lyrids take their name from the Lyra constellation from which the comet that caused the dust stream currently in the atmosphere is thought to have originated.

"Because this year we are moving through the dust stream a little slower the lights are more noticeable. We were seeing up to seven or eight a minute. They are certainly worth staying up for," added Mr Forsyth-Caffrey.

We want readers to send in any pictures they have of the meteor show from either tonight or last night. Send your pictures and video to newsdesk@dailyecho.co.ukor call (023) 8042 4504.