The first in a series of UFO files has been released by the Ministry of Defence - and it has emerged Lancashire plays a starring role in the intergalactic spectacle.
The previously top secret documents, dating back to the 1970s, are the first formal recognition of mysterious happenings in the skies above Lancashire.
The files have been released on the National Archives website just months after Lancashire was declared the UFO capital of Great Britain.
The first of these reports charts an unclassified object moving through the sky above Pendle Hill.
The object, described as "the size of a van, coloured white with dark edges and disc shaped", was spotted flying eastwards towards Settle in the Yorkshire Dales at around 50mph.
The UFO was witnessed by an onlooker and their 11-year-old son, who reported it to Lancashire Police on a clear night in June 1985.
Now, more than 20 years on, the document is one of the first to be released by the MoD.
A spokesman said: "We have released these reports after an increasing number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act."
Earlier this year Lancashire was declared a hot spot for the unexplained, with some 23 sightings – from flashing coloured lights across fields near Tarleton to shimmering spheres seen hovering over Lancaster city centre.
The former head of a Government project into "flying saucers" even recommended Lancashire as one of the places to visit to spot a little green man.
Ufologist Nick Pope said: "While we currently have no explanation why certain places in the UK are alien hot spots, as this research reveals, there are areas where mysterious objects are repeatedly witnessed.
"People who want to go alien-spotting could do a lot worse than head to Lancashire."
The county is ranked third in the UK only just behind west Yorkshire with 34 sightings and Nottingham with 29.
The MoD files include descriptions of alleged UFO sightings and subsequent MoD evaluations of the reports.
A spokesman said: "The MoD's role in respect of UFOs is to examine all reports to see if there is any evidence that UK airspace has been compromised.
"We have no interest in aliens or extraterrestrial activity."
To date, experts have concluded that there are realistic explanations behind alleged UFO reports, such as aircraft lights or natural phenomenon.
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