Perseid meteor shower to light up the night sky this month

The Perseid meteor shower is considered one of the best of the year (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Perseid meteor shower is set to light up the night skies in one of the most dramatic displays of the year.

The shower is one of the highlights of the year for many sky gazers due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors, caused by the Earth slamming into the debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in July and August every year.