180 officers have reported sightings

A computer database set up for police to report UFO sightings has uncovered a series of incidents never before made public.

Detective constable Gary Heseltine, of the British Transport Police, launched the Police Reporting UFO Sightings (PRUFOS) database last year.

Since then Leeds-based Mr Heseltine has received details of 80 encounters from 180 serving and retired officers across the UK.

Unreported cases

In one incident a UFO was spotted by 17 police officers in five different locations.

Mr Heseltine said: "There is no doubt in my mind that many officers have never gone on to report sightings because they fear ridicule or perceive their careers might be harmed.

"I suspect that for every officer reporting a sighting, nine do not.

"If that figure is anywhere near accurate it would mean there are potentially hundreds of unreported cases."