A trail of white lights in the night sky over Brighton has had people scratching their heads.

While some thought it might be Santa and his sleigh on an early visit, The Argus can confirm that the lights were in fact Elon Musk's Starlink satellites.

Around 20 bright white lights streamed across the black sky in a line at about 8pm on Sunday.

The Argus: The satellite train spotted above BrightonThe satellite train spotted above Brighton (Image: Shannon Lewry)

One person said: “It’s Father Christmas watching out for naughty kids - or at least that’s what I’ll be telling mine.”

Another person said: “And there was I thinking it was just some Poundland Christmas lights which had got caught up in Storm Babet.”

The Argus: Elon Musk, who owns the Starlink satellitesElon Musk, who owns the Starlink satellites (Image: PA)

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It has been confirmed the lights were down to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites.

There are roughly 2,000 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth, a handful of which passed over Saltdean and Brighton at 7.46pm on Sunday.

The satellites help to facilitate “the world’s most advanced broadband satellite internet”, provided by American aerospace company SpaceX.