UFO sightings soar by 40%

metro.co.uk

Friday, February 8, 2008

UFO sightings jumped by 40% in 2007, with 135 strange objects spotted in the skies of the UK.

The number of unexpected visitors seems to be rising - just 97 were reported in 2006.

A flying saucer was reported in Stafford, Staffordshire, small stationary aircraft in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and a fast moving triangular shaped object in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

In most of the reports the witness is unidentified but in two cases the file notes that the phenomenon was witnessed by pilots.

Two pilots in the air over Alderney reported two bright orange objects and another pilot in the south west of the country saw a balloon-like object.

Many of the reports refer to bright lights although some callers have insisted they saw "a definite UFO".

In one case a man calling from Cardiff, Wales reports that spaceships appeared and abducted his dog, car and tent.

The Ministry of Defence has released the file as part of its plan to open its archives on UFO research and sightings.

A spokeswoman said that the incidents are recorded but unless some security threat is suspected the Ministry has not investigated the cause of the sightings any further.

Former Ministry of Defence officer Nick Pope was responsible between 1991 and 1994 for investigating such sightings.

He said: "I welcome the MoD's new openness on this subject. Whatever people believe about UFOs, the Government is releasing some of the most fascinating material in its files. Sceptics and believers alike should welcome this."