The MoD may have recently closed their UFO department, but 2009 saw the one of the highest number UFO sightings ever recorded.

Over 600 odd lights or strange objects were reported to the Ministry of Defence 'X Files' bureau last year - which was quietly axed in December.

That number made 2009 the busiest year since 1978 for the department, which investigated all claims - more than 12,000 since it was opened in 1950.

Among the recent sightings was someone from Essex who saw a flying orange light the size of a 20p coin and a man from Doncaster who saw one the size of 30 jumbo jets.

Indeed many of the reports involved an OBOL (Orange Ball of Light) - In completely unrelated news, has anyone noticed how popular those Chinese Lanterns are at the moment.