Alien invasion alert was party game

10:20am Sunday 3rd August 2008

Police have been flooded with reports of UFO sightings after party-goers attached candles to balloons and sent them floating into the sky.

The revellers in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, were involved in a superstitious party game and hoped that by releasing the devices they would make their dreams come true.

But residents in the surrounding area were shocked by the sight of the illuminated globes in the sky, mistaking them for an alien invasion.

Central Scotland Police said they received more than a dozen calls in half an hour from locals who thought the balloons were interstellar craft.

A spokesman said: "We've had call, after call, after call, saying it's UFOs.

"It turns out that there's a party going on and they are letting off balloons with candles on. They make a wish and then release them into the sky."