Oldham: Tandle Hill Country Park to home alien hunting event

UFO Identified's North West division has earmarked Tandle Hill Country Park, in Royton, for its sky watch event where members will hope to spot unearthly objects.

Next Friday (March 15), members of the group will congregate at the car park for 7pm, and founder of the group Ash Ellis has invited "like minded" Oldhamers to join them.

The 36-year-old said: "We always say if you've got a chair bring it, but we always bring extras. To keep warm you should bring a blanket, a sleeping bag, anything like that really.

UFO Identified team at a conference last year. From left: Abigail Hyslop, Steve Yarwood, Natalie Pearce and Ash Ellis (Image: UFO Identified)

"The most important thing is to come with an open mind and be prepared for nothing to happen. It could be really cold and boring but come open minded and be ready to talk, watch the sky for a few hours and be patient.

"We've been running UFO Identified for four years next month, and when we came out of lockdown we started meeting up. I started it because I was trying to find somewhere I could go and there wasn't anything in the North West."

UFO Identified boasts of a website with a database that has recorded more than 1,000 sightings in three years.

The Trafford man continued: "One of the main reasons for coming down is to meet other people, like minded people, give everyone a chance to be in an environment to talk about this subject and we won't be ridiculed.

UFO Identified members at a recent meeting in Sale (Image: UFO Identified)

"There is potential to see things in the sky that people don't usually see, and we'll be there to give an explanation where we can.

"We've had sky watch where 20 odd people have turned up then one time we just had four people - even when no one's showed up we still look at the sky, as it's about enjoying the night really."

Hot drinks and hot dogs will be provided by Ash and his team as he added "people don't realise how cold it can get, especially up on a hill".