IT started as a day like any other for two Hampton schoolboys. Just before 8.30am, they were strolling along a street in the village when they spotted a strange object in the sky.

It was glowing and moving quickly, before eventually disappearing. Talking to other local people later in the day, it became clear the boys were not the only ones claiming to have seen the object, which they described as rounded at one end, pointed at the other and marked with a faint yellow streak.

That was back in 1976. Now UFO researcher John Hanson is trying to find out more about the incident in his ongoing quest to get to the bottom of a recurring mystery that has baffled mankind for centuries.

The 55-year-old retired police officer was sceptical about the subject until just six years ago, when some of his former colleagues in the West Midlands Constabulary were among people across Birmingham reporting seeing a UFO during one fateful evening.

That prompted John to embark on a fact-finding odyssey in his research for a book he eventually hopes to publish.

Perhaps surprisingly, he is unconvinced that the innumerable sightings are evidence of alien beings: he thinks they may be rooted more in the paranormal. "There's so much hype about the extra-terrestrial hypothesis," he said.

"What I try and do is track down information relating to reports of UFOs," he explained, "I like to re-investigate as much as I can because I think it's important to record accurately what's happening."

He added: "All I'm actually doing is investigating it with an open mind, with the help of science, wherever possible."

John has focused his research on incidents dating from the 1940s up to the present day.

He thinks incidents like the Hampton one of 25 years ago can provide valuable clues to what might or might not be out there.

That period was a particularly fertile one for UFO-spotting, with up to 40 similar ones reported throughout the UK over a 16-month period.

"I think it's so important that, when somebody sees something like what happened in 1977, to get evidence to corroborate that story," he said.

"What I like to do is pick up a case," he said, "It doesn't matter how old it is."

Anyone with recollections of the 1976 incident or who thinks they have seen a flying object that cannot be explained away by conventional means, can contact John on 07870 359210.

Journal UFO reports

l November 1994

Reports of a barrel-like object falling into an isolated field at Hipton Hill, between Church Lench and Norton. Field sealed off and object removed.

l November 1996

Harvington woman said she was "scared and mystified" after seeing UFO while she was on road between Harvington and Bidford. Report later supported by a Chipping Campden milkman. Light show at local garage considered likeliest explanation.

l December 1996

Couple report seeing a "flying saucer" at Bretforton. Somebody in Rous Lench allegedly witnesses same phenomenon.