MYSTERY surrounds the reported sighting of helicopters that appeared to be chasing strange flashing lights through the sky south of Darwin this week.

Paul Noaks, 45, of Berry Springs, said that he saw two choppers chasing the lights above his home at about 10.30pm on Monday.

 I walked outside and there were two helicopters with a light about 50m in front of them.," he said.

"It was changing from red to a greeny-blue colour.

"I don't know what it was, I have got no idea.

"All I know is that his thing was silent.

"It was heading off over the horizon and then coming back again and the two helicopters were chasing it," Mr Noaks said.

There have been several reported UFO sightings in Darwin's rural area in recent weeks.

Acacia Hills resident Alan Ferguson photographed what he believed to be a UFO hovering above his home earlier this month.

The photos, run on the front page of the Northern Territory News, sparked a series of calls from readers also claiming to have spotted UFOs in the area.

One caller, Independent MLA for Nelson Gerry Wood, said he saw a strange grey object fly through the sky over Howard Springs.

Mr Noaks said he thought the choppers belonged to the Defence force because they were far bigger than the local helicopters he sometimes sees flying around his home.

But Defence spokeswoman Kelly Cooper said there had been no Defence aircraft flying above Berry Springs last night.

"Defence is not chasing or investigating any UFO activity," she said. "Helicopters don't chase lights in the sky - it's unsafe."

Also - from the week before 17/7/08

The truth is out there

MATT CUNNINGHAM - www.ntnews.com.au
 
MYSTERIOUS: These pictures taken by Mr Alan Ferguson clearly show there was something in the air that day.

 
The object encircled by clouds.

Another magnified close-up of the object.

IS it a bird, is it a plane, or could it be something else?

That was the question Alan Ferguson was asking after taking these pictures at Acacia Hills.

Mr Ferguson, 43, said he was taking pictures of the sky about two weeks ago, but when he downloaded the snaps he noticed a strange object flying among the clouds.

And Mr Ferguson is convinced it could be a sign that life exists beyond the Earth's limits.

"I have been seeing these weird and wonderful things flying around the place for years and no one believes me,'' he said.

Asked if he thought the object was a UFO, Mr Ferguson said: "It's a possibility... we can't be the only people running around.''

Mr Ferguson said he was convinced the object was metallic because he said the sun could be seen reflecting off it.

He said for the past three years he had seen objects moving in the shape of an "N'' at great speed in the sky above his home.

"You picture the letter N in your head, that's the manoeuvre they can make in a split second,'' he said.

UFO spotting has been a regular occurrence in the Territory.

Last month residents at the tiny town of Marlinja, 730km south of Darwin, reported seeing four UFOs.