Birthday pals spark UFO alert - with flying Chinese lanterns!

London, Sept 30 : When two pals released flying Chinese lanterns at their birthday party, they didn't know that the move would spark a UFO alert!

Neighbours of pals Rebecca Lever, 24, and Terri Riddell, 21, bombarded radio stations and the police with calls about alien craft.

"Before we set them off we joked that some people might think they were UFOs," The Daily Express quoted Rebecca, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, as saying.

Those who spotted the mysterious silver and red shapes over Salisbury on Sep 27, included the girls' neighbours Paul Weeks and partner Claire Mullins.

"There were three of them and they seemed to be flying in formation," said Claire.

She added: "We listened but couldn't hear any engines - it was like something out of the X-Files."

ANI