THE NORTH York Moors National Park has been confirmed as having some of the darkest skies in England with no severe light pollution.

The most detailed ever satellite maps of England’s light pollution and dark skies has been released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), have shown that 92 per cent of the skies about the national park are in the two darkest categories.

Low levels of light pollution are vital to those who wish to enjoy and be inspired by dark skies at night and the feeling of remoteness they engender.

Earlier this year North York Moors National Park was awarded another Dark Skies Status for its low light pollution and good public access at the Moors National Park Centre, Danby.

Richard Darn, amateur astronomer, said: “This report confirms that the starry skies of the North York Moors National Park are a treasure of national significance.

“With light pollution growing in many parts of the UK, we still enjoy wonders like the Milky Way and the stunning Northern Lights.

“Dark areas are fragile and wasteful lighting is a threat to quality of the night-sky as well as nocturnal wildlife. Anyone who has spent a few hours under a North York Moors sky after sunset will tell you what a special place it is.”