Regardless of the Chinese lanterns behind most of the town's extraterrestrial sightings, the country's top “UFO expert” is coming to give a conference for a local paranormal interest group.

Nick Pope, former head of the government's UFO research project, has leant his views on crop circles, alien abductions and other happenings to numerous television documentaries, books and lectures.

He will join four other speakers at the Into the Unknown event.

The conference has been organised by local group Into the Unknown, who meet every month to discuss the paranormal.

It will be held on Sunday, May 31, between 9am and 6pm at Garston Manor.

For more information visit http://www.garston-manor-weddings.co.uk/ufo-conference.html or telephone 01923 675535.