Files dating back to the 1970s have been released on The National Archives website today by the Ministry of Defence.

And the most recently recorded local sighting of UFO was over Portsmouth in October last year, an oval-shaped object approached an aircraft and appeared to accelerate very quickly, wobbling from side to side.

Other reported sightings were:

>> In August 2006, there was a report of 12 objects in the sky above Waterlooville.

>> In September 2001, over Gosport, a twinkling object was spotted in the air, very close to a nearby aircraft.

>> In January 2000, an object the size of a 10-storey block of flats was reported over Fareham.

>> In May 2000, there was a bright flash in the sky in Havant, which disappeared and then re-appeared every few seconds.

>> Later on that year, in Southsea, there was a report of a black rectangle with a red glow, taking a minute or so to go across the sky.

>> In October 1998 in Waterlooville, flashes of light were seen every few minutes, followed by a silver beam.

>> In July 1998, 12 objects of different colours formed a triangular formation and made noises in Fratton.

>> In April 1997, a triangular shaped object was seen in Chichester which moved sideways, stopped and then disappeared at a great speed.

>> Finally, more than 25 small objects were spotted in the sky over Southsea in August 1997.

Nick Pope, an employee for the MoD for 21 years, was responsible for investigating the sightings.

He said: 'Most of the UFO sightings here are probably misidentifications of aircraft lights and meteors, but some are more difficult to explain.'

To find out more information and to read the details of the UFO files, please visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk