A SPECIAL flight from Leeds Bradford Airport will give passengers the chance to see the Northern Lights.

The 20th Anniversary Northern Lights Flight on Sunday, November 4 will consist of a three hour return trip to the dark skies above the Shetland Islands.

Positioned high above the earth’s weather system, guests will be in a prime position to spot the aurora borealis* - and can toast the spectacle with a complimentary drink.

The trip is being led by award-winning astrophotographer Pete Lawrence, a regular on the BBC’s Sky at Night show, who will be joined by fellow astronomer Nigel Bradbury.

Passengers can also expect plenty of laughs thanks to celebrity impressionist and keen amateur astronomer Jon Culshaw, who will be providing the on-flight entertainment.

The TV comic is set to perform his renowned impression of the late Sir Patrick Moore, the expert astronomer who co-conceived of the original Northern Lights trip back in 1998.

Organised by Omega Breaks, the event costs £271 which includes a pre-flight, three-course dinner and presentation; the flight itself plus expert commentary and entertainment, and a glass of ‘bubbly’. For more details call 0330 013 0145 or visit www.omegabreaks.com.

*The aurora borealis is an often spectacular natural light display that is mostly seen in the high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic.

In the UK Shetland, Orkney and the north of Scotland offer some of the best chances to see the phenomenon.

The lights are created by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun as they enter the earth’s atmosphere.