Mysterious orange lights were spotted hovering over the town last Saturday night by Jason Selby, of Ripley.

Since the article was published readers have been in touch with a clear and simple message 'we saw them too'.

But less than a week after the sighting Julian Allen, owner of Eclipse Fireworks on Argyle Street in Ripley, has contacted us to solve the mystery.

Mr Allen, said: "I saw the article and I just laughed out loud. They are my Chinese lanterns- this is not the first time this has happened."

He explained the lanterns, referred to as 'Khoon Fay', are used by the Chinese to banish evil spirits.

They work like mini hot-air balloons and are completely silent and burnout after about 20 minutes.

This explains why the floating orbs appeared to just fade away and also why they may have looked like they were following each other- as they are pushed along by the wind.

On Monday the News received a call from a reader in Marlpool who said that she had a party on the night the lights were seen and had set two of the lanterns off. The woman, who did not want to be named said: "I set them off at 9.05pm and they would have drifted that way."

The lanterns cost £29.99 for a box of 10 and are available by calling 07854 959 249.

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