Police in Wales are summoned to deal with mysterious flying saucer... only to discover it was the MOON

But it was not an out-ofthisworld prank, simply a case of mistaken identity.

The patrol that was urgently dispatched to the man's home eventually realised he was unable to recognise the Moon when he saw it.

The incident was among the oddest 999 calls in the history of the South Wales force.

Spot the difference: An emergency caller thought the moon was a UFO

It was highlighted yesterday as part of a campaign to cut down on the number of inappropriate emergency calls.

A switch by the force's 999 operators to the Americanstyle phrase: 'South Wales Police, what is your emergency?' is credited with a 14,000 drop in the number of such calls so far this year.

The conversation about the Moon went as follows:

Control Room: 'South Wales Police, what's your emergency?'

Caller: 'It's not really. I just need to inform you that across the mountain there's a bright stationary object.'

Control room: 'Right.'

Caller: 'If you've got a couple of minutes, perhaps you could find out what it is? It's been there at least half an hour and it's still there.'

Control: 'It's been there for half an hour. Right. Is it actually on the mountain or in the sky?'

Caller: 'It's in the air.'

Control: 'I will send someone up there now to check it out.'

Caller: 'OK.' The mystery was soon solved, as the exchange between control and an officer sent to the scene makes clear.

Control: 'Alpha Zulu 20, this object in the sky, did anyone have a look at it?'

Officer: 'Yes, it's the Moon. Over.'

A force spokesman said: 'It was 100 per cent legitimate, no hoax. It was a serious call from a member of the public.'