Flabbergasted residents around the borough watched as a strange mix of multi-coloured lights shone over Burbage Common and drained their phone batteries.

The bizarre incident last Thursday (August 23) night saw a number of people living in Burbage, Barwell and Earl Shilton call the Hinckley branch of the Leicestershire UFO Investigation Network to report what they had seen.

Many of the witnesses' phone batteries died while they were trying to film the spooky phenomena, leaving some to wonder if the lights wanted to be seen.

A spokesman for the Hinckley branch said that checks so far had failed to show there were any aircraft in the area at the time.

The bright blue light was described hovering silently above the park for more than 45 minutes before coming lower and releasing streams of various different coloured lights. It was then joined by a bright golden light, which glowed, came low in the sky and then shot away at speed.

"It was really weird," said Joanne Smith, of Fairacre Road, Barwell. "I tried hard to film it but my phone just kept switching off. I checked afterwards and it was fine - the battery level showed full.

"We watched it from about 8.45pm until 9.30pm and at the last minute the object just seemed to have just dissolved on the spot."

A resident from Burbage, who did not want to be named, also saw his phone shut off after attempting to film for a few seconds.

He said: "I could hear a faint humming noise but it was totally unlike a helicopter engine sound or a normal aircraft sound.

"It was definitely something strange, it was so bright, several other people were watching it with me."

A spokesman for the Hinckley branch of the Leicestershire UFO Investigation Network said: "We have no idea what kind of object would be showing a blue navigation light as they are actually illegal in aviation law.

"We are still making inquiries and would appreciate hearing from anyone else who may have spotted the object or has any information on what it may have been."

The Hinckley branch can be contacted on Hinckley 614013, or by email at lufoin@gmail.com.

All information will be regarded as confidential.