Amateur astonronomy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in Britain - and now we can reveal the best spots in Kent to stargaze.

This map shows where to find the county's darkest spots that give the best chance of seeing the secrets of the night-sky.

The places in red provide the worst conditions due to light polution, while those depicted in the darkest blue offer the best.

Woodchurch, High Halden and Dungeness are revealed as some of the best places in the south east to see the stars.

While light pollution spreads across much of the county, astronomers living in the remaining dark pockets have been able to take stunning photos from their back gardens.

The Rosette Nebula, around 5,000 light years away. Picture: Mark Shelley

Ashford Astronomical Society secretary Jason Hall said the group of nearly 130 members chose Woodchurch as its base after looking at a light pollution map.

"It's one of the darkest sites in the south east," he said. "We picked it based on the light pollution chart. There was a large dark spot and Woodchurch was right in the middle."

Member Steve Wellsted, 39, has been able to take amazing pictures of the moon and huge clouds of dust and gas known as nebulae from the village and from his back garden in Singleton.

"It's about having the right kit and conditions," he said. "In winter you need to be out there in freezing cold weather but it can take three hours just to get the right shot."

Another stargazer, Mark Shelley, moved to High Halden last year after becoming frustrated with the glare of urban Sidcup.

The 51-year-old, pictured left, said: "On average I'm out one night a week, but it's so dependent on the weather and the phases of the moon.

"It does take a lot of practice. The main issue you've got is to set up the telescope and mount so they follow the stars as they move across the sky over the course of the night."

The financial analyst even surprised himself by taking a clear photo of the International Space Station.

"I was amazed by that," he said. "I was amazed at how much detail could be picked up."

The Orion Nebula, visible to the naked eye in good conditions. Picture: Mark Shelley

Have you taken any stunning pictures of the night-sky? Email multimedianews@thekmgroup.co.uk.