Gloucestershire stargazers were treated to an amazing spectacle last night.

A ring of light around the moon, known as a 'lunar halo', was caught on camera by Cheltenham resident Victoria Ilina, who called it "beautiful" and "unique".

And Gloucestershire Weather Centre posted a picture of the "incredible view" on Twitter.

The phenomenon is caused by a high-altitude ice crystal cloud that gathers around the moon.

In cold weather these clouds can contain millions of hexagonal ice crystals.

The lunar halo above Cheltenham

As as the moon's light passes through the atmosphere, it refracts in the crystals.

When it refracts at angles of 22 degrees or more, a ring around 44 times larger than the moon itself can appear.

Different colours of light are bent at different angles, meaning the inner edge of the halo is slightly red and the outer edge has a bluer tint.

If you've got pictures of last night's moon, send them to