A VOLUNTARY group that investigates suspected UFOs in East Lancashire claims the number of sightings in the area is on the increase.

The Pendle, Hyndburn UFO Network, or PHUFON, is busy investigating a series of sightings of alien craft centred around Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington.

The announcement comes in the week officials at the Pentagon, the USA army headquarters, revealed they have no evidence to back the existence of UFOs.

PHUFON also claims hundreds of mystery craft spotted each year go unreported by members of the public because of fear of ridicule.

Rory Lushman, chairman of PHUFON, believes the soaring number of sightings can be linked to popularity of programmes like the X-Files. Mr Lushman said: "We approach each case and try to prove what the object is. Nine times out of ten it can be explained but there are a few that just won't be easily explained.

"Ufology is very busy at the moment and programmes like the X-Files have probably helped our cause; but down the road when these programmes have lost their public appeal we at PHUFON will still be sorting through the cases.

"There are things in our skies that the Government know about. They may or may not know what they are but they still deny their existence, even though many cases show on radar.

"People may scoff at ufology and, just like any other paranormal activity, there will always be the cranks and the hoaxers. But we are still left with many unsolved cases."

The organisation celebrates 50 years of UFO spotting this summer and has arranged a special anniversary event along with the British UFO Studies Centre.

The event, at the Tatton cinema in Gatley, Manchester, has been organised to co-incide with the film Men In Black.

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