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SECRET papers of UFO sightings in the Essex skies have been made public.

The Government has opened its records of the mysterious accounts following overwhelming public demand.

Among the X-files, compiled by the Ministry of Defence between 1978 and 2002, are stories of strange aircraft hovering above our streets and countryside.

According to one witness, an "aerial phenomena" happened over Tolleshunt D'Arcy on February 24 1982.

It was reported to staff at Essex Police HQ, who filled out an official form detailing the sighting.

The craft was "round, changing to oval, flashing green and red," and could be seen with the naked eye.

It was spotted "just high in the sky" over Darcy Way.

Another sighting was recorded at 7.05pm on 18 March 1985 at Blackmore, near Ingatestone, and lasted five minutes.

The observer described an "object shaped like a 50p piece with two strong beams of light from the front and two weaker ones from the rear".

It had "red, yellow and green-coloured lights in clusters on the underside in three clusters and three coloured lights on either side".

The UFO was apparently stationary before slowly moving over the witnesses and then it disappeared at speed.

Other reports from the county include one in Chelmsford on 13 August 1985, three in Harlow in early 1985 and two near Billericay a month later.

Eight files were released by the Ministry of Defence this week and another 150 will be published during the next four years As well as reported sightings from the public, the documents contain investigations and government briefings.

The Ministry of Defence said it examines reports only to establish whether UK airspace may have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised military activity.

A spokesman said: "The Ministry of Defence has no other interest or role regarding UFO matters and does not consider questions regarding the existence or otherwise of extraterrestrial life-forms."

To see the files, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

6:35am Friday 16th May 2008

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