Alloway UFOs identified

Apr 17 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

THE UNIDENTIFIED Flying Objects over Alloway have been identified – we think.

And sadly they’re not extra terrestrials visiting Burns’ Cottage.

That would have been an incredible boost to the tourist trade.

Just think, Burns would be not just global, but inter-galactic.

And Ayr County Buildings could be turned into a giant transit bar for aliens.

But before everyone rushes to back this idea, let’s return to the flying objects.

An Alloway reader alerted us to a group of orange-coloured lights she saw in the night sky.

She didn’t want named in case people thought she had lost her marbles.

The Post published the Alloway lady’s sighting – and we then took a host of calls from people who also saw the lights.

Another Alloway lady told us: “It was amazing to see them floating about. I watched spellbound for about 10 minutes until they disappeared.”

A granny walking her dogs in Belmont also saw the mysterious sight.

Her seven-year-old grand-daughter was staying with her that weekend.

Little Olivia Campbell reports ‘big orange circles in the sky’.

And the observant Heathfield Primary pupil phoned her mum to say she’d seen a spaceship.

Yet another Alloway lady told us: “My husband was so concerned he phoned the police.

“An officer seemed worried in case the lights could have been a ship’s distress signal.

“We had also seen the lights on Christmas night.”

A man living near Tam’s Brig in Ayr called to say he saw similar orange lights about three weeks ago, coming from the direction of the racecourse.

But the call that pointed to an explanation came from a reader in Dalrymple, who was at an Ayr Rugby Club function with her partner.

She said: “We saw lanterns being set off from the gardens in the Brig o’ Doon Hotel.

“We were surprised at how high they flew and how far they drifted.

“We actually commented that anyone seeing them and not knowing what they were could be forgiven for thinking they were UFOs.”

Brig o’ Doon Hotel has confirmed that sky lanterns were released as part of a celebration at the hotel on the Saturday night when our readers spotted orange lights in the sky.

A spokesman said: “It’s an ancient Chinese tradition that is growing in popularity.

“It’s a lovely idea that’s quite literally taking off.”

Lanterns are made from non-flammable biodegradable paper. They are filled with hot air before being released, and can reach heights over 1000ft, making an impressive and eye-catching sight.