Source of UFO scare revealed

A ten-year-old girl from Walsall has been revealed the source of the UFO scare in the town this week.
Josie Webb, from Pelsall, said she had had no idea that her £6.49 balloon from Argos had been the cause of alien-life speculation.
The Express & Star revealed the story on Monday, June 29 http://bit.ly/rFgbn after retired teacher Mike Tunnicliffe took photographs of the cylindrical shape in the skies over Sutton Road.
He admitted he had been at a loss as to what it could be when he saw the 30ft balloon float towards the Mellish Road area.
But last night, it was discovered that the balloon was accidentally loosed by Josie and her eight-year-old brother Ben when they visited Aldridge Airport on Sunday lunchtime with their father, Chris.
Josie said she was surprised when she heard that her balloon, a present from her father, had resulted in so much UFO talk.
“I was only playing with it and let go of it by mistake,” she said. “I think it’s really funny that people thought it might be aliens.
“I didn’t mean to let it go; it was an accident.”
The original story in the local newspaper led to 10,000 hits on its website as UFO lovers watchers from across the world read about the mystery.
But the mystery was quickly solved when it was found to be a Science Museum balloon, sold widely around the country.
Josie’s mother, Julie, a foot health practitioner, said she had did not know her daughter’s accident had caused so much media speculation.
“So long as it didn’t cause an accident, I can see the funny side,” she said.

**NB IF LOCAL PRESS PICKS UP THIS STORY, IT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ME**