The truth could well be out there - just not necessarily in Halesowen.

Stunned residents believed they were witnessing a UFO display after seeing a “long string of lights” moving slowly over the town at around 7.30pm on Thursday.

But it turns out the flying mysteries were nothing more than a cluster of Thai lanterns released by Lutley primary school following a carol service.

Janet Baker, from the Brookwillow Road school’s PFTA, explained 55 paper lanterns had been released at the climax of the evening.

She said: “The lanterns are beautiful and we thought it would make a fitting end to the event - it was only when I went pick the children up the next day I realised the commotion that had been caused - it was quite amusing.

“It was supposed to be a lovely end to a spiritual evening, we never thought it would cause so much chaos.”

The lanterns, which are made of tissue paper, fill with hot air when lit and float into the sky and burn brightly for around 20 minutes.

Richard Wells, of Waxland Road, said he was with around a dozen people who watched the lights moving slowly in the sky toward Birmingham.

Richard said: “They were all travelling in the same direction, toward Birmingham and the were very slowly and silent, they kept a straight line and didn’t move at all.

“I called some of my neighbours outside and we all stood there watching them - it was amazing.

“I told some of the children it must have been Santa’s reindeer on a trial run!”

For video footage of the lanterns click here