A dazzling meteor shower is set to light up Norfolk's skies tonight as stargazers look forward to the astral show.

The Taurid meteor shower is set to reach its peak tonight, and combined with some dark skies, will be visible to the naked eye.

The shower is caused by ice and dust debris left by Comet Encke as it passes through our solar system.

The debris sheds into space and when the "comet crumbs" arrive in the Earth's atmosphere burn up leaving bright trails of light in their wake.

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Tonight's shower, the Norther Taurids, will peak at midnight but is active from around October 13 to December 2.

Many photographers will use long-exposure cameras to capture the spectacle but to have the best chance of viewing with your eyes, take in the night sky for around 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust.

A clear night sky tonight also allows for the best opportunity to spot the meteors, however, high pressure in the coming days is likely to make it more difficult for anyone who misses it.