NINE reports of sightings of UFOs in Suffolk were investigated by Ministry of Defence experts last year, it was revealed today.

SUFFOLK: Nine reports of sightings of UFOs in Suffolk were investigated by Ministry of Defence experts last year, it was revealed today.

In a year in which The Evening Star was inundated with readers' reports of strange lights in the skies and fears over extra-terrestrial beings buzzing our communities, it is clear most people did not make a formal report.

Now they will never have the chance - because in future the MoD will be ignoring any little green men who choose to visit Planet Earth.

The department, which previously looked at every single reported UFO sighting to assess if it posed a threat to national security, has decided it's not a good use of resources to continue its work and has axed its investigation unit.

On average the department gets at least one sighting a day from somewhere in the UK - last year it nearly doubled to 643.

Among these were reports of lights over Ipswich, a large black ball moving at 200mph over Bury St Edmunds, very bright white lights over Trimley St Mary, and fast moving orbs and “sparkler-like” craft over west Suffolk.

If it is not an enemy attack or unauthorised use of airspace, the service's staff did not attempt to find out what else it might be.

An MoD spokesman said: “The MoD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life.

“However, in over 50 years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom.

“The MoD has no specific capability for identifying the nature of such sightings. There is no defence benefit in such investigation and it would be an inappropriate use of defence resources.

“Furthermore, responding to reported UFO sightings diverts MOD resources from tasks that are relevant to defence.”

Have you seen a UFO? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

FASTFACTS: Among the UFO sightings in Suffolk 2009

Brandon - two yellow objects like giant sparklers seen heading north-south.

Bury St Edmunds - a large black ball with a light underneath travelling south at 3,000ft and at 200mph.

Tunstall - two clusters of bright lights which were stationary before 15 headed silently off towards Woodbridge at speed, followed moment later by the other seven.

Trimley St Mary - Very bright white lights which travelled south, double-backed on themselves, “danced” in the sky and then split up and sped off in different directions.

Ipswich - several sightings of low fast-moving orange lights zipping across the town.