IF the old saying is true, shepherds must have been delighted after last night's beautiful sky.

Many readers snapped a gorgeous sunset over Warrington and we've collected some of our favourites below.

Why was last night's sky so colourful?

Colourful skies at night are due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering.

This is when the components and particulates in the atmosphere, including oxygen, nitrogen and dust, become more dense.

It scatters the different colours of light that make up sunlight and as the sun sets, its light has to travel through a greater depth of atmosphere.

The atmosphere tends to scatter the blue and green light to the greatest extent but not the red so the sun appears redder towards sunset.

Any dust particles present also tend to scatter the red frequencies of light towards us which further enhances the redness.

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from Claire Garrett

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from Sharon Macartney Phillips

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from Tony Marsh

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from Liz Hylton

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from Linsey Marie Hughes

Warrington Guardian:

Picture from nine-year-old Bradley Mills