A DOG walker is keen to solve the mystery of a bright orb that he spotted in the sky over the Cheshire countryside.

The man, who lives in Malpas, approached The Standard after his friends suggested he send his video footage to the press so people could offer their opinions.

It was captured late in the evening back in May 2017 between Marbury and Wrenbury, near Whitchurch, and shows a silent glowing orb that suddenly disappeared.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t think it’s aliens but it is a UFO in that it is an unidentified flying object.

“It was kind of pulsating and it was clear as anything. I thought it was a helicopter at first but there was no sound whatsoever and then it just disappeared in front of me.

“It was probably about three or four miles away and I have absolutely no idea what it was now.”

He added: “I’ve been cautious sharing it because I don’t want people to think I’m a barmpot! I’ve been interested in UFOs ever since I was a child though.”

The man said he had seen something similar whilst on a holiday in Barbados in around 1996.

“There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and there was like a silver button or disc which was shimmering and then disappeared,” he said.

“I kept my eye on the sky where it was and called my then partner and my nephew over and pointed to the spot. Then it came back! They both saw it.”

The Standard has approached a number of aviation clubs and organisations in the area, including the airport at Hawarden, asking for their opinions on the footage but none have yet responded.

Since the story was published online on Thursday (July 11), one man from Ellesmere Port contacted our newsdesk to say he had seen something similar in October 2017.

He said he had been travelling back from a work shift at the Vauxhall plant when he saw three orbs in the sky over the Stanlow oil refinery, alongside what looked like a cigar-shaped metal object.

"They were just lined up in formation," said the man, who also wished to remain anonymous. "It was mad! I did a lot of research on it afterwards. When I saw your article it was like a blast from the past and I had to call in!"

The Ministry of Defence in the UK shut down its UFO desk in 2009 and interest in 'flying saucers' is said to have diminished over the past decade.

However, a survey in 2012 revealed that 20 per cent of UK residents still believed UFOs had landed on Earth, while 10 per cent claimed to have seen one.

* Let us know what you think of the Cheshire footage by calling the newsdesk on 01244 304554 or emailing steve.creswell@newsquest.co.uk