MARCH'S lunar eclipse which turned the moon red was spooky enough for most. But those gazing moonwards in west Oxfordshire thought they had spotted a spooky UFO floating across their skies.

An object, described as "a slow-moving orange light" was seen passing over Witney at the same time as the lunar eclipse on March 3. It was widely reported in the media.

Among those who spied the object, shortly after 10.30am, were Derek Hall, from Witney, and his girlfriend, Paula Siford.

Mr Hall, a 43-year-old sales executive for a security company, said: "It was spooky. We were looking at the eclipse when we saw this bright glow, just to the side of the moon. It appeared as a slow-moving orange light - as if a light aircraft was in flames. There was no sound at all. It was very strange."

Another witness was 14-year-old Lewis Ashton, who watched the object from his home in Burford Road, Witney. He said: "It wasn't a plane or a satellite. I don't know what it was, but it seemed quite strange."

But as word spread, the 'mystery' was finally solved, with the origin of the object much more down to earth.

Rather than Mars or Venus, the object actually took off from the town's Moorland Close.

Rather than alien technology, the 'craft' was a Chinese-style 'wish balloon' made of nothing more than paper and wire - bought off eBay by Steve Ilott, of Thames Valley Police.

Mr Ilott, who is based at Wantage Police Station, ordered the balloon as a birthday surprise for his wife, Gail, and launched it from his garden as a "romantic gesture".

The balloon was launched by means of a small flame, and rose to a height of 200 ft, before drifting off towards Oxford - where people also reported strange lights in the sky. Sgt Ilott said: "My wife and I had a good laugh, because we knew the answer to the mystery."