Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Did you spot any out of this world visitors?

Jennifer Williams
9/ 1/2008

THE truth is out there - and it might, just possibly, be somewhere in Stockport.

At least that’s the hope of a group of Portwood partygoers who had their own X Files experience over the festive season.

Reveller Neil Mortique and more than a dozen friends were letting in the New Year as usual when they popped outside to get some fresh air.

But as the clock struck 12 they got more than just the traditional fireworks - as two strange glowing objects drifted silently across the night sky.

Now Neil, a training assessor from Goyt Road, is appealing to Express readers who may have made similar spooky sightings that night.

Neil said: "While we were outside someone noticed a light in the dark sky moving over Stockport very fast, with an orange glow - then another behind it, maybe a mile apart, and then two more all travelling at the same speed. They appeared to be round.

"Then they seemed to disappear into the night sky.

"These were not planes, helicopters, fireworks, flares or anything like I have seen before, but they were witnessed by around 15 people.

"I don’t really believe in UFOs but I haven’t a clue what it was we all saw. It was the weirdest thing."

And Neil has also found footage on Youtube of an identical sighting, at the same time, in Birmingham - but one ufologist has already suggested an alternative explanation.

Expert Brian James, of the Anomalous Phenomena Research Agency, said: "From the description by the witnesses, and a number of reports around the country over the festive season, I think we can be 95 percent certain these UFOs were nothing more than wind borne fire lanterns.

"These are now so common they have attained a real nuisance value in terms of UFO reporting and investigation.

"Due to their nature they do not have to be licensed and do not require permission of any kind to launch or fly them. This makes traceability next to impossible."

But Neil isn’t convinced. "They were moving across and not up, and if they were lanterns I’d have thought they’d be moving upwards," he said. "And they were definitely round."

If you have had a similar sighting, or think you know what Neil saw, then get in touch with our newsdesk on 475 4834.

Most recent 2 of 4 user comments