A MASS of yellow and orange flame, emitting a shower of sparks and a trail of strange vapour seen over the Malvern Hills, has been dismissed as a trick of nature.

But the unusual sight had at least one couple believing they may well have witnessed a UFO.

Jon Percer, of Welland, spotted the strange object at around 8.45pm on Sunday, July 1 and alerted his wife Mary.

"It wasn't going very fast and the vapour trail didn't get any longer."

Mr and Mrs Percer watched the object for several minutes before it disappeared over the hills.

West Mercia police said that they had received no reports in connection with the incident.

A spokesman for the Royal Air Force said that there were no operational air bases nearby and the Civil Aviation Authority refused to comment.

Worcester weatherman Paul Damari said that the most likely explanation was that in the high atmosphere, sunlight had reflected from the underside of a plane, causing the flame-like appearance.

Sent to prison

A BURGLAR struggled with a landlord when discovered trying to break open an electricity meter in a pair of Kidderminster flats.

In the fight which followed, Larry Gower was overpowered and a screwdriver taken from him, said Miss Julie Sparrow, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

Gower, aged 30, of Drake Crescent, Habberley estate, Kidderminster, was jailed for 12 months after admitting burglary when he appeared before the court yesterday.

Miss Sparrow said Gower had broken down the front door to a communal passageway and had ripped the meter off the wall to reach the coins inside.

Alerted by the noise, the owner of the flats surprised Gower and was able to take the screwdriver off him.

Gower, who had 13 convictions for burglary, was said by his counsel, Mr Geoffrey Clough, to be a lonely man with a drink problem.