HOPES were sky high for enthusiastic aurora chasers leaving Bournemouth Airport last week as they took off in search of the green glow of the northern lights.

More than 135 people, including many ardent astrologers and keen stargazers, boarded the chartered Thomson passenger plane on Thursday for the three-hour trip to see the Aurora Borealis organised by Omega Holidays.

It is the first time the company, which organises flights from airports all around the UK to see the night-time wonder, has flown from Bournemouth.

With experts including BBC Sky at Night presenter Pete Lawrence, Sky at Night magazine writer Paul Money and Nigel Bradbury on board to describe the starry sights outside, all eyes were trained on the horizon willing the famous lights to appear as the plane travelled north of the Shetland Islands.

But although there was a faint green glow visible to eagle-eyed passengers shrouded by the darkness of the cabin, expectations of a spectacular light show were dashed due to the unfavourable conditions.

Sky at Night presenter Pete Lawrence said: “Unfortunately we cannot ever guarantee seeing the lights every night because this is of course a natural phenomenon.

“We do take our chances but it adds to the excitement.

“Although we may not have been able to capture the aurora at its best hopefully this will have whet people’s appetites to see more.”

Peter Truman from Lancaster-based Omega Holidays said: “We hope in the future there may be more flights here for budding astrologers and keen members of the public to come aurora chasing with us.”