DID visitors from another planet steal the thunder from David Beckham's spectacular free-kick against Blackburn.

Drinkers in a packed pub were more interested in a strange light in the sky than the game on Wednesday night.

Shocked customers at the Daisy Hill Hotel spurned the football on TV and went outside to watch a strange Unidentified Flying Object above them.

Landlord Lee Nuttall recorded the close encounter on a camcorder and is now searching for a UFO expert to analyse the tape to see if it really was an alien.

Mr Nuttall said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

"The pub was packed for the football match but it soon emptied and everyone went outside to watch the UFO.

"I've never seen anything like it before in my life.

"It was zig-zagging around the sky in a really erratic way, with green, yellow and red surrounding it.

"I'm a keen amateur astronomer and I've seen satellites and that sort of thing before now.

"But that was no satellite."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We have seen no evidence for extra terrestial beings in Bolton or any other part of the country.

"We don't really have an interest in UFOs -- we are more interested in matters of national security."

Manchester Airport air traffic controllers confirmed there were no aircraft in the area at the time.