Secret government 'X-Files' reveal 97 UFO sightings in Britain's skies last year

Such sightings are among those reported in good faith to the Ministry of Defence.

Details emerged after the MoD decided to publish witness reports of the unidentified objects seen in our skies – and occasionally in our gardens – following a large number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

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The classic image of a flying saucer, but descriptions of strange things over Britain's skies have been many and varied

The ministry's website shows that in 2006 alone there were 97 reported UFO sightings.

The alien peering through the kitchen window was spotted by a couple in Hastings. Another witness reported hearing a massive bang above Stamford Hill, North London, before two large fireballs streaked away.

Sunderland had a silver pyramid which rotated at low speed. And a 'mothership with two smaller orbs' flying above Barlaston in Staffordshire was spotted twice in five days.

And moving into 2007 unidentified flying objects have caught the attention of hundreds of stargazers in Stratford, lighting up the otherwise clear night sky above Shakespeare's birthplace two weeks ago.

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In the previous year, 128 sightings included an orange ball of light with 'spiderish legs' and a 'black cigar-shaped object that looked like a disc side-on' and flew 'faster than a fighter jet'.

A log of unidentified flying objects has been kept by the MoD for decades, with some cases investigated for national security reasons.

Previously, it took 30 years for classified records of UFO sightings to be released, leaving enthusiasts with a cold trail to follow up.

But details of every sighting since 1998 were released just a few months after this year's 60th anniversary of the alleged alien crash-landing in Roswell, New Mexico.

Robert Rosamond, chairman of the British UFO Research Association, said: "These files give an exciting insight into unexplained phenomena – most interesting is anything that is structured or has an unusual shape.

"Around 98 per cent of cases can be explained. The remaining two per cent keep us fascinated."

Last year a former MoD chief warned Britain could be attacked by aliens at any time.

Nick Pope had just stepped down as head of the government department's UFO project and complained it had been 'virtually closed'.

'Highly credible' sightings were often dismissed, he added, and Britain was 'wide open to attack'.

Some of the sightings can arguably be explained by the descriptions given by witnesses, such as 'triangle shape that had lights on that looked similar to a helicopter'.

A large number also occur in November and on December 31– when fireworks displays are held – and after pub closing hours.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: "Sometimes UFOs are weather balloons, military jets, optical illusions. But sometimes we just don't know what they are."

However astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, veteran presenter of The Sky At Night, dismisses the chances of aliens visiting Earth.

"There is no intelligent life in our solar system, except possibly on Earth – and I am not so sure about that – so the chances of anyone seeing an alien craft are extremely light," he said.

"To anyone who thinks they have seen an alien craft I would say, 'Have another look'."