EXTRA terrestrial activity has been ruled out as the cause of bizarre damage to a Lincolnshire wind turbine.

Forensic tests have proved a failed bolt is the reason behind the broken blade at the wind turbine at Conisholme, near Louth.

At the time, the damage was linked to the sighting of strange lights over Alkborough.

Fatigue in the material around the bolts is thought to be what caused the strange damage.

The story caused a national storm after the story of the wind turbine and the mysterious unexplained lights was broken in the Scunthorpe Telegraph and made the front page of The Sun.

On the BBC's website, it was one of the most read stories and it was a hot topic on Radio Four's Today programme.

The story was also taken up by Sky News and discussed on ITV's Loose Women.

As the Scunthorpe Telegraph reported Lesley Whittingham (71), from Jerusalem Cottages, Alkborourgh, described seeing bright orange and yellow tints in the air.

Mrs Whittingham, along with her husband Frank (78) had watched the stationary object for five minutes before it mysteriously disappeared. Louth resident Dorothy Willows, who lives just half a mile from the windfarm, was in her car when she saw 'strange lights' in the sky.

She was among dozens who spotted the mysterious flashing orangey-yellow spheres.

Hours later there was an almighty smash.

Afterwards one blade had been ripped off and had totally vanished, while another was left twisted and useless.