Tips have been given on the best way to see the rare and stunning Northern Lights in Cornwall this weekend.

Last Sunday (March 3) people in the Duchy were lucky to see the rare sight as they were visible from the southern region of the UK.

Jo Shreeve was one of the lucky people to see the lights from Portreath Beach.  

Jo told the BBC that after receiving an alert on her phone at 8.30pm she headed to Portreath Beach along with her eight-year-old daughter Ezmay. She said: “It was like a spectacular show. It was not as bright with the naked eye; you could just make out the colours.”

Jo said she was ‘squealing and jumping’ when she saw the colours light up the sky.

“This happened about four times last year. The sun is in a solar maximum, so it is coming to its peak. It will probably happen a few more times this year,” Jo added.

When is the best chance to see the Northern Lights in Cornwall this year?

According to the Met Office, the illuminations are most coming during the equinox in March and September when the Earth is not tilted towards or away from the sun.

However, there is a possibility that the lights can be seen this weekend in Cornwall.

According to the BGS (British Geological Survey) which accesses geomagnetic activity, there will be active levels with a chance to see the lights this Friday.

Falmouth Packet: According to the Met Office, there's a high chance of seeing the Northern Lights this weekend According to the Met Office, there's a high chance of seeing the Northern Lights this weekend (Image: Supplied)

Holiday company Parkdean Resorts has given a list of tips to help maximise your chance of seeeing the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis.

It recommends heading to Cornish beaches for the best view of the lights, with Portreath being a great spot, due to its previous activity.

Other tips include:

Turn off the lights or find somewhere secluded.

For those stargazing from the comfort of their homes, turning off the lights indoors can improve the visibility of the night sky. Artificial light can make it harder to see stars in the sky so make sure wherever you are is as dark as possible. The best way to see the stars is by heading to secluded areas away from artificial light like beaches or hills.

Choose a night with clear skies.

To see the Northern Lights, you will need a clear, cloud-free sky. 

Look to the north.

The clues in the name, in general, look to the North although it could be overhead or elsewhere. Keeping an eye on social media can give you clues of other users who have managed to spot the auroras. 

Stay up late.

In general, the best chance of seeing an aurora is later into the night. Usually, the optimum time is between 10pm - 2am, but as last night shows an earlier viewing can be possible as geomagnetic activity can happen at any time.

The best time to see the Northern Lights in the UK is in March and September, so for anyone who can’t make it this week, planning to go in September could allow you to see this dazzling spectacle.