Balloon claim pops 'alien' theory
A series of mysterious lights seen flying over a Shropshire army barracks may be nothing more than a set of Chinese wedding lanterns, a hotel manager has claimed. A series of mysterious lights seen flying over a Shropshire army barracks may be nothing more than a set of Chinese wedding lanterns, a hotel manager has claimed. Three soldiers at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, spotted the 13 lights zig-zagging across the sky above the barracks earlier this month. Corporal Mark Proctor reported the sighting to the Ministry of Defence, which is now investigating. But staff from the Tern Hill Hall Hotel, which is located a short distance from the barracks, say it is likely the lights the soldiers saw were Chinese wedding lanterns, which had been let off at the hotel by wedding guests the same night. Hotel manager Stuart Willatt said the lanterns were let off on June 7 at about 11pm, just minutes before the soldiers claimed to have seen the lights. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A series of mysterious lights seen flying over a Shropshire army barracks may be nothing more than a set of Chinese wedding lanterns, a hotel manager has claimed.Three soldiers at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, spotted the 13 lights zig-zagging across the sky above the barracks earlier this month. Corporal Mark Proctor reported the sighting to the Ministry of Defence, which is now investigating.
But staff from the Tern Hill Hall Hotel, which is located a short distance from the barracks, say it is likely the lights the soldiers saw were Chinese wedding lanterns, which had been let off at the hotel by wedding guests the same night.
Hotel manager Stuart Willatt said the lanterns were let off on June 7 at about 11pm, just minutes before the soldiers claimed to have seen the lights.
He said the lanterns are about a metre wide, and are a balloon with a wax wick at the bottom, which burns.
On the night about 40 or 50 were released by guests at the wedding, and he claims some of the must have drifted over towards Newport and over the barracks.
Mr Willatt said: "They get to a certain height and they just burn and disintegrate.
"We've used them about five or six times now, but this is the first time anyone has mistaken them for a UFO.
"Normally they drift off towards Market Drayton and Shrewsbury; this is the first time they've gone over towards Newport.
"Both the hotel staff and the bridal party are very amused by it now.
"They are becoming more popular because they are cheaper than fireworks and better for the environment. Next time we let them off we will be warning the guardroom."
At the time, Corporal Proctor recorded the lights he saw on his phone.
The three soldiers said the lights, which were bright red, passed over the barracks at high altitude, but not at a great speed.
They reported the incident to the MoD, which said it was investigating the sighting to ensure there was no threat to the army barracks.
About two hours later, a couple of cabaret singers travelling down the A5 claimed they were followed by a large bright light.
Katy Cunnion and Russell Quinn said they were pursued for about an hour from 1am as they drove along the road.
Several other Shropshire residents have also claimed to have seen unusual lights in the sky recently.
By Abigail Bates
