With the great help from Sarah at the local paper, here is the story.......
UFO TO EARTH: YOU'RE NICKED!
Police set up an astonishing fake UFO sighting to trap people illegally tuning in to police radio.
They shone coloured lights into the night sky above the downs and put out hoax messages about flying saucer reports.
Car-loads turned up hoping to catch a glimps of aliens but instead, they found the boys in blue.
Officers quizzed them about how they had heard of the UFO and about illegally using scanners to listen to police messages.
Two disapointed UFO hunters had scanning equipment confiscated.
Other sky watchers escaped the trap, tipped off by CB radio.
To set their out of this world trap on the hills above Eastbourne, officers used 4 colour filter halogen lamps. Insp Martin Stevens admited the operation was bizarre but effective.
He said "scanning is a serious matter and illegal. Police need to keep radio conversations secret. We may carry out more operations like the UFO sighting."
(dated 12 sept 97)