Lanterns misidentified as UFOs

The grand finale of a wedding taking place near Felsted, Essex, UK was the release of dozens of Thai lanterns into the night sky to achieve an effect similar to the photo seen here. Shortly after, concerned citizens called the Stansted Airport and the police to warn authorities that aliens may be invading. From Bishop's Stotford Citizen:

(The bride's) father, Stephen, said: "It was very impressive. They float away slowly and create quite a stir. It was very good."

But he admitted that when the wedding was being planned no one considered the reaction the display might have caused.

"I hadn't even thought about it," Mr Lye said. Admitting that the lanterns could have been seen by unsuspecting people as possible UFOs, he said: "They did cluster in the night sky."

Link (via Fortean Times)