UK UFO sightings – August 2008 (updated regularly)

i will try and keep this up to date, with all information from the UK.

Please check back from time to time, as this will be updated regularly…If you see something that i have missed, please contact me (thanks).….

There has been an explosion of UK UFO activity, after the MOD released its UFO archive, and this might account for the media clamouring for our attention (how much of it is fact, is frankly anyone’s guess), and also the public looking at the sky more than normal.

Many of the sightings are sensationalised, with usually alot of information missing.

Please keep this in mind as you view these postings from the local and national press.

I’m afraid many also fail to follow up on their initial leads, and many reports just remain forgotten.

Some incidents could be UFO balloons (please see:  https://dandare.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/ufo-balloons-what-are-they/ for more details, from a previous article).   

However, as i have said before, i am not sure what value they are to any UFO research. 

Many of the sightings are sensationalised, with usually alot of information missing. Please keep this in mind as you view these postings from the local and national press.

I’m afraid many also fail to follow up on their initial leads, and many reports just remain forgotten.

1st

Staines News “Is this the staines UFO?“

 “A reader has sent us this intriguing picture after dozens of people reported strange lights in the sky over Staines on July 9” (extract from article).

 The Star “The truth is out there – these UFOs were chinese lanterns at a wedding”

” The lights – which sparked theories of a UFO invasion – were spotted by hundreds of people on Saturday night. But no one – including police – could explain what they were.
Now Sylvia Critchlow, aged 63, of Bluebell Close, Wincobank, has revealed the lights had nothing to do with aliens – she believes the cause of the panic was her daughter’s wedding reception” (extract from article).

 This is Derbyshire ” Another sighting of UFO in region ”

“I WANTED to let you know about a UFO that was sighted at Codnor on Monday, July 28..[.]…..The object was rugby ball shaped with a bright white light underneath, it was going at great speed then stopped turned and vanished instantly. I have never known any aircraft to stop in mid-air to turn, and there was no noise coming from it ” (extracts from short article).

2nd

 

3rd

 BBC News; Scotland “Police flooded with UFO sightings”

“More than a dozen UFO sightings were reported to police after partygoers attached candles to balloons and released them into the night sky” (extract from article). Later it says, that residents believed it to be “an alien invasion”…. i doubt it myself.

Press Association “Alien invasion alert was party game ”

“Central Scotland Police said they received more than a dozen calls in half an hour from locals who thought the balloons were interstellar craft” (extract from article).

4th

Jornal live “Chinese lanterns theory on UFO sightings”

“But last night a spokesman for Newcastle International Airport revealed that air traffic control had been informed in advance that around half a dozen Chinese lanterns were to be released from Tynemouth Priory as part of a celebration at 10.30pm.The spokeswoman said a wind may have caught the lanterns and blown them over the Morpeth area” (extract from article).

Londonist ” Croydon’s Mystery Jet ”

“A war-time airplane, apparently crushed behind the walls of a perfume factory in Croydon, is vexing locals, who’ve sniffed the stagnant stench of conspiracy and cover-up. If this isn’t a job for the X-Filers, we don’t know what is” (extract from article).

Daily Record ” Police swamped by wave of UFO sightings ”

“A BUNCH of balloons sparked fears at the weekend that Scotland was being invaded by aliens.Police were swamped with phone calls from locals worried about strange lights floating over their homes” (extract from article).

 Daily record ” Sky’s the limit ”

“IT’S known as Scotland’s UFO triangle – the zone between Edinburgh, Falkirk and Stirling where extraterrestrials are more common than confetti at a wedding.

With scores of sightings of the unexplained every year, the patch around the M9 has been dubbed the Costa del Sol for aliens” (extract from article).

 

 Get Reading “UFOs turn out to be fire lanterns ”

“The truth was definitely out there after the Evening Post was told the “bright orange globes” which stunned onlookers in the night skies on Saturday, July 26, were in fact fire lanterns.

The lanterns, which work in a similar way to hot-air balloons, were set off from a wedding reception being held at the Oakwood Centre in Headley Road” (extract from article).

 

5th

Birmingham Mail ” UFO sceptics report sightings in King Heath ” 

“Scores of people said they had seen bright orange and red lights hovering inexplicably in the skies over south Birmingham on Friday, July 18.But even more sightings have been logged since our story ran last week – the majority by non-believers who have changed their minds on the question of whether there’s anything “out there”.

Coun Neville Summerfield, cabinet member for regeneration at the city council, was among the former non-believers forced to change their tune“” (extract from article).

6th

North Devon Gazette ” Was this the UFO? ”  

“THEY were launched as a romantic gesture at wedding and engagement celebrations in Muddiford and Braunton – but could a pair of illuminated Chinese-style rice paper lanterns explain a wave of UFO sightings across North Devon?” (extract from article).

 

 

7th

Chard and Ilminster news ” Chard UFO mystery ”  

“A NUMBER of people have contacted the News to say they saw some “bright orange lights” in the sky above Chard over the weekend … leading to speculation of UFO sightings in the area” (extract from article).

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner ” Mystery lights in the sky ”

“Four people say they saw an unidentified flying object after being woken by a loud noise on Sunday night.Two people living in Marsh said that at first they thought it was a military aircraft.But seconds later they saw a bright spherical white light higher up and which had two lights where wing tips might be.

On the same night a Newsome woman was alerted by a noise around the Newsome Road area” (extract from article).

8th

 

9th

The Sun “ Extra Terrestrials ”

Littlehampton Gazette ” Comet due to appear in the night sky ” 

“Peter Stanley from the Crawley Astronomy Society, said the comet Perseid, which passes over this time every year, is due to appear between 10pm Saturday evening and 2am Sunday.He said: “This particular comet passes over around August 12 every year.

I thought I would contact you because I was reading you’re UFO story and I thought people in the town might be interested in seeing the comet for themselves” (extract from article).

UPI.com “UFO sightings at Peak in Britain ” The same is reported in the telegraph ” UFO sightings in UK this year reach 150 ” .

10th

Londonist “Every little green man helps ” 

11th

Wales online ” Eight near-crashes in Cardiff Airport airspace ” 

“And two years ago ground staff spotted a UFO. They originally thought it was a military helicopter, but air traffic controllers could find no trace of the aircraft” (extract from article).

Ufo digest ” UFO over Dublin ? ”  

 12th

Southern Daily Echo “ Gran sights UFO over New Forest ” 

“Grandmother Jasmine Percy was packing up her tent to leave Ashurst campsite when she spotted an orange oval disc shaped object that appeared to be on fire” (extract from article).

13th

Largs and Millport weekly news ” UFO mystery in Cumbrae ”

“A spokeswoman for Clyde Coastguard said: “There was a high level of meteor activity reported across Scotland as far as Aberdeen. It was investigated.”

The ‘News’ also spoke to the Met Office who confirmed that there was meteor activity believed to be a perseid meteor shower (see youtube video above).The meteors come from a trail of debris left in the wake of the Swift-Tuttle comet” (extract from article).

Halifax Courier ” Riddle of UFO spotted in sky over Mytholmroyd ”

“Readers reported seeing strange lights flashing above Mytholmroyd on Monday between 8pm and 9pm.
Chris Granger, 45, of Vale Mill Cottages, Cragg Vale, said he was shocked to see six bizarre lights for two to three minutes before they disappeared.The ex-RAF avionics technician, said: “The bright yellow lights emerged from the cloud base in pairs and moved towards Hebden Bridge.“They moved in a very erratic manner and did not display the flight characteristic of a conventional aircraft. Nor did they display the normal lighting array of a conventional aircraft – flashing white strobe, and red and green navigation lights”” (extract from article).

Welwyn and Hatfield times ” UFOs spotted in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield cause a stur ” 

“STRANGE lights were spotted across Times Territory by hundred of residents on the night of Friday August 8.
They featured in this week’s edition and online at http://www.whtimes24.co.uk.
Below are some of our readers’ reactions and photographs” (extract from article).

 14th

 Loughborough Echo ” Is this a UFO ? ”

“A mysterious orange orb was spotted moving silently across the skies of the village on August 4, at around 10pm.

The UFO, which was travelling west to east before turning 90 degrees and heading south, was spotted by at least three residents independently – including one who captured the light on camera” (extract from article).

The Royston Crow ” UFO group serious over new sightings ”

“The Crow was contacted by paranormal investigation group Scope Paranormal, which said that four employees on the York Way industrial estate had spotted an unusual object in the sky at 1am on July 25.
The witnesses said that they saw a “bat-winged” shape with an orange circle of light in the middle hovering silently over the industrial estate for about 20 seconds. It then disappeared at speed. And when Scope Paranormal decided to visit the industrial estate to investigate further, we went to meet them” (extract from article).

Manchester Evening news ” UFO mystery in Stretford ”

“CROWDS of people in Stretford watched in awe as a formation of mysterious orange lights hovered low over their houses last night.
The intensely bright orbs, the colour of the setting sun, were spotted by dozens of residents between 10 and 11pm.
Motorists stopped their cars and neighbours on several streets congregated outside to watch the orbs pass slowly overhead” (extract from article).
Video to this can be seen on you tube, plus added footage.

 

15th

 Times Online ” Don’t shoot down the flying saucers, it’s one of ours, to support urban warfare ”

“The military is to assess whether the alien-like aircraft, Moon buggies and miniature flying robots are capable of detecting roadside bombs and insurgents without putting troops in the line of fire.The saucers, which are less than a metre (3ft) across, have optical and infra-red cameras and can fly over enemy positions without the need for a remote-control operator” (extract from article). a similar article can be seen in The Inquirer here

16th

Daily Star ” Northern frights – UFOs appear over city ” 

“Police had so many calls they sent officers to investigate the UFO mystery.Matthew Darsley, 31, who lives on the estate in Stretford, Manchester, said: “It was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. They looked as if they were on fire – really bright orange orbs.

“They definitely weren’t helicopters or planes and there was no smoke or sound. We were thinking: ‘This is it.’”

Beverley Clarke, who watched with husband Michael and son Joe from their garden, said: “We saw one through the trees. Just as it was disappearing, another one came from the same direction” (extract from article). I do not usually comment on these articles, but i would like to suggest that they have the characteristics of  chinese lanterns.

17th

 Wales Online “Are aliens targeting Wales ? ” including video… “Mrs Usher claimed she watched in amazement as the crafts buzzed her property while she sat in her garden on a warm summer evening.Mrs Usher, 38, said: “I was with my husband, aunt and uncle when I spotted a bright orange light coming over the trees.

“Two more came side by side, followed by many more – about 24.”There was no noise, they just came over. We watched in amazement until they all disappeared.”” (extract from article).

18th

Boston Standard “UFO spotted in Lincolnshire skies ”  short article… one of those, i did not see anything until after i took the shot on my camera. 

19th

Littlehampton gazette ” Worthing UFO sighting : reaction and comment” 

 Bedford Today ” UFO sightings – Its time for an official Inquiry ”

“Leading paranormal enthusiasts have called for an inquiry following a spate of claimed UFO sightings across Bedfordshire this summer.Last month the Times & Citizen reported that a mysterious object had been spotted in the skies above Clapham and captured on video” (extract from article).

Enfield Independent ” Orange rugby ball-shaped UFOs seen in Winchmore hill ”

“Mystified Alison Moynihan, of Hillcrest, said she was watching television with her husband at 10.30pm on Sunday 10 when she first caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a procession of lights. She said: “My husband saw this bright orange light. We ran up to the loft to have a look and it suddenly zoomed out and up. It was like a bright orange rugby ball and it had a sort of halo around it like a street light. It moved up and to the left quite swiftly.” ” (extract from article).

Aversion.com ” Muse lets its UFO go to waste ”

20th

Halifax Courier (follow up article)..link given in article ” Mytholmroyd UFOs: Aliens….or just space rubbish ? ”  

“Two people suggested the bright spots in the skies could be attributed to an annual natural phenomenon.
Reader James Fryer said: “I’m certainly no expert, but I believe the lights were probably part of the annual meteor shower known as the Perseids.”
The showers, which are active from July 17 to August 24 this year and reached their peak on August 12, are caused by small bits of debris that enter the Earth’s atmosphere when our orbit passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet. These particles travel at very high speeds, reaching up to 32 miles per second and burn up in the atmosphere” (extract from articles). I would tend to agree with this theory, i’m afraid. 

South London Press ” UFOs seen over Brockley ”

” Chairman Roy Lake said: “At first I thought it might have been Chinese lanterns, which are quite large and glow when they rise up into the air.”But in this case there is no doubt in my mind that they have seen something that is going on in our skies.

“It’s obviously a UFO, which could be anything – a Government black-ops project, a Chinese lantern or something else.” ” (extract from article).

Kentish Express ” Woman freaked out by UFO sighting” 

“A woman claims she saw bright flaming lights hovering over Ashford before dropping laser like shafts to the earth.Jade Anthony, 29, said she witnessed the unidentified flying objects from the garden of her home in Bullrushes, Singleton, on Sunday night.She says they left her feeling “freaked out”.

The model and singer, who also runs her own DJ agency, spotted what she is certain were alien craft at 9.15pm ” (extract from article).

Burnley Express ” UFO spotted above Burnley? ”

“A BIZARRE formation of lights over Burnley has left residents baffled.The strange sight was seen around 10-40 p.m. on Friday” (extract from article).

21st

 Loughborough Echo ” More UFO sightings reported ”

“One resident said: “At 10.30pm I saw 10 of the orbs travelling from an easterly direction, then turning northerly, at about two minute intervals…[.]..However a Loughborough sighting was rubbished by Neil Gibson, who saw an orb in Loughborough on August 17 near to Churchgate: “I could not identify the object. After 10 minutes of research on the internet I pretty much confirmed it was a fire balloon.” ” (extracts from article).

22nd

Rossendale free press ” UFOs were lanterns, says new witness ” 

“Another witness claims the sightings were caused by Chinese lanterns being set off in the grounds of the Sykeside Country House Hotel and Restaurant, Haslingden” (extract from article).

Suffolk Free Press ” Your comments on Sudbury’s mystery buzz ”

“Electronic gadgets, locusts, refrigeration plants … opinions on what is creating the Sudbury Buzz have been pouring into the Free Press from around the world…

George Bemiss, from Melbourne, Australia thinks the buzz is the background noise to modern life” (extract from article).
23rd

Worcester News ” Look out for that UFO in riverside fireworks display ”  

Hebden Bridge Times ” Mystery lights fuel UFO speculations throughout Calder Valley ”

“Between the end of July and this week householders up and down the length of the valley, from Todmorden to Mytholmroyd, have described seeing silently moving bright yellow or orange lights make their way across the sky in a way that does not seem like conventional aircraft” (extract from articles). Also covered by Halifax Courier here .

 

24th

 

25th

 

26th

Harlow Herald ” UFOs spotted over Essex ? ” 

“When I got to where my daughter was, the first thing she asked me was, ‘Did you see them?’ There were many others who were out pointing up at the sky.”
She later added that the objects were bigger than stars, and said that they were not Chinese lanterns” (extract from article).

This is nottingham.co.uk ” UFOs spotted over Carlton ”

“SEVEN orange lights were spotted in the night sky over Nottingham and Carlton resident Sally Slater is convinced they were UFOs..They were seen at around 9.30pm on Sunday over Carlton” (extract from article). However, in the comments section below this article, and there are quite a few, a party after a wedding seems to be the cause…. with you guessed it chinese lanterns; although the witness who sent in the photos, is still not convinced. 

Hoprncastle news ” Mystery lights seen in sky ”

27th

Islington Gazette ” Dad has close encounter with UFOs ” 

“John Petros, 42, was celebrating his birthday with son Petros, 11, when he saw what he described as bright red craft appear in the night sky.
From his balcony in Rokesly Avenue, Crouch End, he says he saw the six ships form a cross over Archway for several minutes before disappearing” (extract from article).

Newbury Today ” Alien life over Theale ? ” short article, and to be frank – not very interesting.

Enfield Independent ” UFO-style lights in the sky confirmed ”

“Now, five more people have contacted the Independent with reports of UFOs, ranging from a cone-shaped light with an orange halo to a rugby-ball shaped spacecraft” (extract from article).

Somerset County Gazette ” UFO sighting in Creech St Michael ”

“Glen Cornell, who lives in Taunton, was at his girlfriend’s home with her parents when they spotted a strange array of lights from their back window at around 9.50pm on Saturday.He said five of them watched as the orange lights appeared over a hedge” (extract from article).

28th

Shields Gazette ” Mystery lights spark UFO alert ” (short article).

Sussex express ” Worthing’s latest UFO exposed ” ( must be short article day ! )

Great Yarmouth Mercury ” Ufo sighting over St Olaves ”

Wigan Today.net ” Mysterious UFO captured on film ”  

” The man in his 30s, who only revealed his first name as Geoff, filmed the strange object hovering near to junction 27 of the M6 at Shevington Moor last month ” (extracts from article).

Scarborough Evening News ” UFO mystery deepens with more encounters ”

Lough leader ” UFOs described as orange lights spotted over Lough ”

29th

The Sun ” Every little green man helps ” 

“The white and green lights were snapped hovering over the supermarket — which has the slogan “Every Little Helps”. Sid O’Driscoll took our exclusive pictures at the 24-hour store in Croydon, South London, at 2am…[.]….UFO expert Nick Pope, who worked for the Ministry of Defence, examined the pictures.He said: “Green lights are unusual — it rules out the so-called Chinese lanterns that accounted for some recent UFO sightings in the UK.”The images and description of the movement don’t fit a list of things frequently reported as UFOs — aircraft lights, meteors, satellites. “This is a genuine mystery.” ” (extracts from article).

I’m sorry… yes it is different from the usual sightings we have been seeing lately; however, it could be lens flare that is causing this image, among other things. There are far too many so called UFO experts jumping the gun, and saying that “this is a genuine mystery”, and so on, without analysing the evidence properly (is there any serious discussion in this article on the photo?)…. it suggests a hidden agenda; unfortunately, due to the size of the photo being presented in the article, it really is almost impossible for anyone else to analyse it.

 This is nottingham.co.uk ” City UFOs? This couple has the answer ”

” WHEN lights floated across the evening sky in Carlton last weekend, no one was able to identify the mysterious flying objects.Many believed the lights were alien spacecraft, prompting a flurry of comments on the Evening Post website.But a more earthly explanation for the strange, ethereal objects has now emerged.Newlyweds Izabella and Adrian Jagiello-Marks believe the lights were actually flying Chinese lanterns, released into the sky as part of their wedding celebrations ” (extracts from article).

Whitby gazette ” See UFOs for yourself ” (for videos please go here ) .

Burnley Express ” UFO alert over Burnley ”

30th

 

31st