Was it a bird or a plane? Most people seem to believe it was a UFO.

Lights flashed around the skies of Brighton and Hove on Tuesday night, prompting onlookers to believe they were seeing an extra terrestrial spacecraft flying low over the city.

Sightings were reported in Hove, Patcham and near Brighton Marina between 9.30pm and 11.30pm.

Red, blue and white flashing lights were seen, slightly masked by cloud, silently circling the area.

Brothers Danny and Matt Daley both took videos of what they saw from their bedroom windows near the cricket ground in Hove.

Mr Daley, 24, who works in digital marketing, said: “We saw about 15 flashing lights bobbing around for an hour. They were green, blue, red and white.

“We could see a shape but its size was not exactly clear. It was definitely a solid object in the sky. It wasn’t a helicopter or a plane.

“It sounds crazy but we do think it was a UFO. Straight away you could tell it was something abnormal.

“We want to know if anyone else saw the same thing.”

Scuba diving master Oliver Bailly, 25, from Peacehaven, believed he saw the unidentified flying object near Brighton Marina at about 11pm.

He was staying at a relative’s house in the marina and said: “I wasn’t too shocked but I just want to know what it was and I’m sure other people do too. I haven’t seen anything like this before.”

In Patcham, the object hung almost stationary in the sky, west of Patcham High School, for about 20 minutes, witnesses said.

Joanne Summerscales, founder of UFO support group The Anomalous Mind Management, Abductee, Contactee Helpline, based in St Leonards and Hastings, said the sightings were similar to others reported.

She said: “Often sightings involve flashing, coloured lights and the object is absolutely silent. Sometimes the area where the ship is also goes eerily quiet.

“There have been some in Hastings. It is thought the ships are drawn to bodies of water, sometimes for energy reasons, and some scientists believe there are bases in the sea.

“This may be an anomalous sighting but it will be interesting to learn more.”

Sussex Police said they did not receive any reports of UFO sightings.

Watch our videos of the sightings at theargus.co.uk.