A unique weather phenomenon known as 'Steve' was spotted over Ayrshire on Bonfire Night. 

Sky-watchers were thrilled to see the Northern Lights right across Ayrshire, but they got an unexpected bonus by spotting another unique sight. 

'Steve' is a thin purple ribbon of light that appears in the sky on very rare occasions, and was only recently discovered by scientists. 

It is associated with the aurora borealis but is not an aurora itself. 

Ayrshire Today:

'Steve' stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and may also have gotten its name from the Over The Hedge movie. 

It is thought to be made up of a fast-moving stream of hot particles called a subauroral ion drift, and can last for up to an hour. 

The phenomenon was spotted across Ayrshire, including by Cumbrae resident Eilidh Beck as she watched the skies over the island.