2:42pm UK, Friday December 19, 2008
David Crabtree, Midlands correspondent
A "spectacular" display of dozens of UFOs has been reported in the skies over the West Midlands.
Eyewitnesses told Sky News that up to 70 bright circular objects could be seen near Halesowen.
Stunned residents watched in disbelief, convinced they were viewing an extra-terrestrial spectacle.
Each object was encircled with lights and had lights in the middle, according to witness Steven Randall who lives in Halesowen with is wife and three children.
He said: "This was incredible and so spectacular. The lights seem to climb into the sky to the north of us, just before 8pm last night.
"A neighbour had shouted for us to come and look. There were so many objects. From a distance they looked like bubbles rising in a fizzy drink.
"Then they came towards us and flew right over the top. Some were so close they were almost touching and were only a hundred feet or so above us.
"The objects were absolutely silent and travelling at probably twice the speed of a normal aircraft.
"They were all circular and had 13 to 15 lights around the rim. Each had lights in the centre which were flashing on and off. They went south at a terrific speed."
Birmingham International airport is to the east of the sightings, but according to Mr Randall, the flight path comes nowhere near the houses.
"Aircraft are not allowed to fly over this area. We regularly see air traffic in the distance and I can assure you that this was something very different," he said.
Air traffic control at Birmingham International airport had nothing on their radar to suggest anything out of the ordinary.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that independent experts have concluded there are straightforward explanations behind alleged UFO reports, such as aircraft lights or natural phenomena.
Reports of UFOs were examined by the MoD solely to establish whether UK airspace may have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised military activity.
If required, sighting reports are examined with the assistance of the Department's air defence experts. Unless there is evidence of a potential threat, no further work is undertaken to identify the nature of each sighting reported.
The MoD has no other interest or role regarding UFO matters and does not consider questions regarding the existence or otherwise of extraterrestrial life-forms.
Eyewitness Steve Randall believes defence officials will be very interested when they see the video.
