Out of this world

Our closest neighbour a hotspot for paranormal activity, TV series finds

- BY JACKIE ANNETT

FLYING saucers and strange lights in the sky... every year Ireland's closest neighbours report hundreds of sightings of unidentified flying objects and have been doing so over eight decades.

The UK is considered to be one of the most active UFO hotspots in the world, despite the fact government officials have long insisted they are not concerned about reports of strange activity in the sky.

But ufologists would disagree. They suggest the government's own files tell a different story - one that finally came to light in 2008 when the MoD finally released its UFO files.

TV presenter Lynn Picknett, who writes about the paranormal, says: "The MoD released 60,000 files on the subject.

"Which basically backs up the assertion over the years that they've been researching all sorts of anomalous phenomena."

The MoD has files on military staff encountering UFOs going back over 80 years, according to a programme on Sky History.

A series of experts appear on Ancient Aliens - Britain's UFO Files to discuss unexplained phenomenon, including Stonehenge and UFOs.

One of the most famous UFO sightings was on St Stephen's Day in 1980 at RAF Woodbridge in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, where US soldiers were based.

Shortly after midnight, military personnel at the former base detected a strange object on their radar.

Andrew Collins, a science and history writer, says: "Airmen were sent out in a vehicle to investigate, and came across this clearing in which was this otherworldly object surrounded with light. It rose up slightly, then moved backwards and disappeared.

"Over the next few nights, more and more sightings occurred. The whole episode was written up and recorded by the deputy base commander, Lt Col Halt, which was very unusual."

It was one of many sightings near UK military sites.