This article was published in the daily newspaper Epping Forest Guardian, London, England, on August 10, 2003.
Unidentified sightings of a mysterious object in the night sky over Loughton have left two women baffled.
Grace Thomas was first to spot the bright light from her home in Oakwood Hill two weeks ago. Then the following evening her friend, Mel Rex, also saw something unusual in the same area.
Mrs Thomas said: "I was just about to draw the curtains and it was so bright." It remained visible for about an hour.
She added: "There was no plane or helicopter, it was so still. It was so bright it was unbelieveable. I saw this white flash come out from nowhere and went back in."
Mrs Thomas made her sighting looking towards Hainault on Monday, July 21.
The following evening Mrs Rex also witnessed the strange happening, and said she was able to see it between 11 pm and 1.30 am.
She told the Guardian: "It was oval, a bit of a squat oval shape and very low down with markings on it.
