LIGHTS, camera, action!

An astronomer from Burnley had an out of this world experience taking part in a new documentary about the Northern Lights.

Adam Whittaker, the man behind the award-winning social enterprise Source Science, travelled to the edge of the Arctic Circle with a group of students.

Mr Whittaker, 37, joined stargazers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) on the four-day trip to Björkliden, in Sweden, in March this year to provide analysis for the film, Lost Beneath the Northern Lights.

Debbie Williams, head of publishing at UCLan, said the trip was too good an opportunity to miss.

She said: “This project was more than a year in the planning. We came up with the idea when we were working with the astrophysics students and staff last year and they happened to mention that it would be the best time in hundreds of years to see the Aurora Borealis.”

The group also visited the world famous Ice Hotel in the remote village of Jukkasjärvi, around 90 minutes from Björkliden, as part of their expedition.

Mr Whittaker, a former Habergham High School pupil, regularly visits schools throughout East Lancashire to give talks on space.

As well as starring in the film, he has written a book due to be published by the university in February.

He said: “It was the first time any of us had been in the Arctic Circle and it truly was the trip of a lifetime.

“It couldn’t have gone any better - the scenery and the culture were just stunning.”

The documentary was given a boost earlier this week when former Labour government spin doctor and Burnley fan Alastair Campbell mentioned the trailer on his Twitter account.