There was a rare sight above Dorset yesterday in the form of an unusual cloud.

Lots of readers snapped the circular looking formation, known as a fallstreak hole or "hole punch" cloud, above Weymouth yesterday afternoon.

According to the Met Office, a fallstreak hole forms when part of a cloud layer forms ice crystals which are large enough to fall as a 'fallstreak'.

The holes form in clouds of supercooled water droplets, water below 0 degrees but not yet frozen, sometimes after an aircraft punches through the cloud layer causing the air to expand and cool as it passes over its wings or propeller.

This change in temperature can encourage the supercooled droplets to freeze and fall from the cloud layer in this distinctive pattern.

They have been spotted all over the world but are very rarely seen.

It follows last week's weather phenomenon when the UK was thrown under a blanket of Sarahan dust brought in by Hurricane Ophelia. Members of the public watched in wonder as the sun turned red under the yellow cloud.

Did you spot the hole punch cloud? Email your pictures to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk