The present invention relates to long decay phosphors comprising rare earth activated strontium aluminates and methods for producing them. The phosphors comprise a matrix of the formula Sr4Al14O25 comprising europium as an activator and a further rare earth element as a co-activator, wherein the molar ratio of Al/Sr in the starting materials is in the range of 3.1 to less than 3.5 and the ratio of Eu/Sr is in the range of 0.0015 to 0.01. The process for the preparation of a phosphor comprises the steps of milling the starting materials for the synthesis of the phosphor, the starting materials comprising a boron compound selected from boric acid, boric oxide or a borate salt in an amount such that the B/Sr molar ratio is between 0.1 and to 0.3, treating the milled composition with heat, grinding the block material which is obtained through the heat treatment, ball-milling the crushed material, sieving the material, and washing the material with an aqueous solution.