Were Chinese lanterns to blame for the recent UFO sightings?

MORE claims that UFOs have been sighted above Guernsey were made yesterday.

But some islanders say the witnesses are actually seeing Chinese lanterns.

The Guernsey Press yesterday reported on St Sampson’s couple Kerry and Lorraine Le Patourel, who were convinced they saw glowing orbs in the sky on Saturday 8 August but swore they were not lanterns.

Ogier administration manager Caroline Raines said she and her husband, David, had not witnessed those, but they definitely saw something on 23 August.

They had just got out of their car in St John’s Road, St Peter Port, at about 9.25pm.

‘I looked up and saw a bright orange light moving silently and quite quickly across the sky, from north to south.’

The couple rushed into their house.

‘Then we went immediately out of the back door, from where we watched it continue on its silent flight until it disappeared into the misty night sky.’

She said she had got a good look at the object.

‘My best description of it is a circular shape with continuous deep orange lights around it, not flashing, which looked almost flame-like. The strangest thing about it was the fact that it was completely silent.’

Martin Cambell, who lives near Barras Car Centre,  said he could confirm the 8 August sightings.

‘It was a Chinese lantern, for sure,’ he said. ‘I was on my patio with four friends and we all saw it come over at about 150-250 yards high.’

His friend had suggested fetching a camera to record the moment but they told him not to bother as it was obviously a Chinese lantern.

‘We could then see the candle inside it and its ribbed structure,’ he said.