of britain makes secret ufo files public

The mystery behind the closure of the Ministry of Defence's UFO desk and hotline in 2009 has been solved with the release of declassified files.

The Government shut down its UFO operations because they served "no defence purpose" and were taking staff away from "more valuable defence-related activities", according to 25 files from the National Archives.

Documents reveal 643 sightings were reported in 2009, treble the previous year and the second highest recorded since 1978 when 750 sightings were logged.


Photograph apparently showing a 'UFO' over Stonehenge, Wiltshire, in January 2009. (The National Archives)

Read more (The Real X-Files: Britain makes last of secret UFO files public)


Watch UFO file release summer 2013