UFOs or a simple Chinese tradition?

MYSTERY SOLVED: Chinese lanterns.

THE RIPLEY and Heanor News team have been inundated with phone calls following a UFO sighting over Belper last weekend.

Mysterious orange lights were spotted hovering over the town last Saturday night by Jason Selby, of Ripley.

Since the article was published readers have been in touch with a clear and simple message 'we saw them too'.

But less than a week after the sighting Julian Allen, owner of Eclipse Fireworks on Argyle Street in Ripley, has contacted us to solve the mystery.

Mr Allen, said: "I saw the article and I just laughed out loud. They are my Chinese lanterns- this is not the first time this has happened."

He explained the lanterns, referred to as 'Khoon Fay', are used by the Chinese to banish evil spirits.

They work like mini hot-air balloons and are completely silent and burnout after about 20 minutes.

This explains why the floating orbs appeared to just fade away and also why they may have looked like they were following each other- as they are pushed along by the wind.