'Alien' visitors have been 'seen' over Lincolnshire more in the past year than any other, according to new figures.

Reports from the Ministry of Defence show that last year, eight people called claiming they had witnessed visitors from outer-space tracking the county's skies.

This compares with a total of just 13 sightings for the five years between 2003 and 2007.

Reports came in from all over the county, including areas over RAF bases, the city centre and villages.

The last called logged by the MoD was December 21, at 5.30pm.

The caller from Scunthorpe said: "A bright flashing "star" in south west sky. Too bright for a star. Like a fireball.

"It repeatedly got bright and then died down. Looked big but pretty far away."

Other descriptions varied from "exceedingly large lights" and "moving in an arc" to "12 lights in no formation" and "an inverted V-shape of seven dull lights".

But the MoD say it isn't planning on investigating the increase.

A spokesman said: "The MoD examines reports solely to establish whether UK airspace may have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised military activity.

"Unless there is evidence of a potential threat, there is no attempt to identify the nature of each sighting reported."

For more on UFO sightings in the county, see Friday's Echo.