http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7398108.stmbbc said:Secret files on UFO sightings have been made available for the first time by the Ministry of Defence.
The documents, which can be downloaded from the National Archives website, cover the period from 1978 to 1987.
They include accounts of strange lights in the sky and unexplained objects being spotted by the public, armed forces and police officers.
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The eight released files are part of almost 200 files set to be made available over the next four years.
These documents will be available to download for free for the first month.
The UK UFO files available from the national archives are a collection of declassified documents that were previously held by the UK government's Ministry of Defence (MoD). These files contain reports, investigations, and correspondence related to sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in UK airspace.
There are over 60,000 files included in the UK UFO files collection, which cover a time period of over 50 years from 1950 to 2009. However, not all of these files are related to UFO sightings, as some also contain administrative and policy documents.
Yes, the UK UFO files are available to the public. In 2008, the MoD made the decision to release all of the files to the National Archives, where they can be accessed by anyone with a valid research card. The files are also available online through the National Archives website.
The UK UFO files contain a wide range of information, including witness reports, official investigations, photographs, and sketches of reported UFO sightings. They also contain correspondence between the MoD and other government agencies, as well as details of how the MoD handled and responded to UFO reports.
The MoD released the UK UFO files to the public in order to increase transparency and to address public interest in the topic. This decision was also influenced by the Freedom of Information Act, which requires government agencies to release certain documents to the public upon request.