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UFO claim over wind farm damage UFO claim over wind farm damage
(about 2 hours later)
UFO researchers are claiming damage to a Lincolnshire wind farm turbine was caused by a mystery aircraft.UFO researchers are claiming damage to a Lincolnshire wind farm turbine was caused by a mystery aircraft.
The turbine at Conisholme lost one 66ft (20m) blade and had another badly damaged in the early hours of Sunday.The turbine at Conisholme lost one 66ft (20m) blade and had another badly damaged in the early hours of Sunday.
Local UFO groups said they had lots of reports of activity in the area and had teams searching for clues. Local ufologists said they had received many reports of activity in the area and had teams searching for clues.
Ecotricity, which owns the site, said while investigations continued they were not ruling anything out - but the extent of damage was "unique".Ecotricity, which owns the site, said while investigations continued they were not ruling anything out - but the extent of damage was "unique".
To make one of these blades fall off, or to bend it, takes a lot Dale Vince, Ecotricity
The turbine is one of 20 at the Conisholme site, which has been running for three years. The broken blade has been recovered and is being examined.The turbine is one of 20 at the Conisholme site, which has been running for three years. The broken blade has been recovered and is being examined.
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said they were keeping an open mind about the incident. Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said the company was keeping an open mind about the incident.
To make one of these blades fall off, or to bend it, takes a lot Dale Vince, Ecotricity
"We don't have an explanation at the moment as to what the cause was," he said."We don't have an explanation at the moment as to what the cause was," he said.
"We have been crawling all over it and have sent bits off for analysis to see if we can work out what caused it "We have been crawling all over it and have sent bits off for analysis to see if we can work out what caused it.
"Until we have some idea, some plausible explanation that it was not a UFO, I don't think we should rule it out"."Until we have some idea, some plausible explanation that it was not a UFO, I don't think we should rule it out".
He added: "To make one of these blades fall off, or to bend it, takes a lot."He added: "To make one of these blades fall off, or to bend it, takes a lot."
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Russ Kellett, from the Flying Saucer Bureau, said witnesses had told him of activity in the area.Russ Kellett, from the Flying Saucer Bureau, said witnesses had told him of activity in the area.
"One saw what they at first thought was a low flying aircraft on the Saturday evening and another heard a loud banging in the early hours of Sunday," he said. "One saw what they at first thought was a low-flying aircraft on the Saturday evening and another heard a loud banging in the early hours of Sunday," he said.
"This is the second most reports of activity we have ever had - I have had over 30 phone calls and emails."This is the second most reports of activity we have ever had - I have had over 30 phone calls and emails.
"To hit two of the blades, any object must have been about 170ft long.""To hit two of the blades, any object must have been about 170ft long."
The Ministry of Defence said it was not looking into the incident.The Ministry of Defence said it was not looking into the incident.
A spokesman said: "The MoD examines reports solely to establish whether UK airspace may have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised military activity.A spokesman said: "The MoD examines reports solely to establish whether UK airspace may have been compromised by hostile or unauthorised military activity.
"Unless there's evidence of a potential threat, there's no attempt to identify the nature of each sighting reported.""Unless there's evidence of a potential threat, there's no attempt to identify the nature of each sighting reported."