Laura Jane McLeod is convinced that Chinese lanterns set off from her house on Dougalston Avenue to mark her 21st recently are the origin of a string of spooky sightings.

Calls and e-mails have been flooding into the Herald office from people who have seen strange lights in the sky.

One man even caught them on camera, the footage of which can be seen on our website, www.milngavieherald.co.uk

However, Laura Jane says that it is she, and not little green men, who are behind the mystery.

The Caledonian University business information student said: "It's a bit embarrassing, but I think they must all be from these Chinese lanterns.

"We had the party on Thursday, October 29 and there were lots of people there. We let go the lanterns as my dad has been working in China and it's seen as good luck over there.

"I just thought it was a nice touch — I never thought it would create this much interest.

"From the way people have been describing them, I'm certain that's what they're seeing. At least people can sleep well in their beds knowing that it was just my birthday and not aliens!"

The Herald reported how our readers saw mysterious light shows around the date of Laura Jane's birthday — and for several days afterwards.
David McKechnie saw them in the Westerton area of Bearsden at around 8.10pm on Bonfire Night and caught them on camera.

However, just as one mystery was being solved, another started last week as people began to report strange, circular points of light moving about the night sky, quite different from the 'Chinese lantern' sightings.

David Farrell, from Milngavie, said: "I saw this from about 8pm to 9pm and later on Wednesday night, November 11.

"I had returned home with my wife and daughter and went to close the blinds in the extension of house as usual.

"I looked upwards to notice how clear the sky was apart from a few clouds to the south/south-west.

"It was at this point that I noticed a white circular light dancing to and fro along the length of one of the clouds.

"On closer inspection, I could see a faint trail of light leading to the circle of light and concluded that someone was shining a spotlight from somewhere, akin to searchlights used in Second World War."

Another reader reported seeing them above Hillfoot station in Bearsden, while another said she saw them while driving from Bearsden, along Maryhill Road near Killermont Polo Club.

However, in this case, the truth was definitely out there — because the phenomena was put down to huge spotlights being used miles away at the SECC to promote comedian Eddie Izzard's gig there.

Karen Maskill, Izzard's publicist, said: "The lights are called trackers. We use them at every venue and it's just a bit of fun to create a buzz before gigs. They are definitely not UFOs."