A team of specialist unidentified flying object (UFO) investigators are visiting Oldham tonight in a bid to unearth alien life.

Members of UFO Identified, a group with a UK-wide database boasting of over 1,000 sightings with many investigated by their extra-terrestrial researchers, will descend on Tandle Hill Country Park from 7pm.

Founder Ash Ellis, has earmarked Royton's countryside as the perfect place to host their monthly sky-watch - with "like-minded" residents welcomed down to gaze at the stars in the hope of spotting something out of this world.

The Oldham Times: Picturesque sky watch at Otterspool, in Liverpool, 2022Picturesque sky watch at Otterspool, in Liverpool, 2022 (Image: UFO Identified)

Speaking to The Oldham Times, 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.

"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."

 

The Oldham Times: Ash Ellis using binoculars during a sky watch at the Waterloo Marina, in Crosby, 2021Ash Ellis using binoculars during a sky watch at the Waterloo Marina, in Crosby, 2021 (Image: UFO Identified)

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.

"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."

The Oldham Times: Sky watch on Werneth Low, in Hyde, 2022Sky watch on Werneth Low, in Hyde, 2022 (Image: UFO Identified)

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".

Those interested should congregate at the car park of Tandle Hill Country Park, off Tandle Hill Road, for 7pm and from there they will walk five minutes into the park before setting up camp for a few hours.

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