Bonnybridge, UFO capital of the UK, plans close encounter with Roswell

The little green men will be delighted. Britain's UFO capital and its US counterpart are to celebrate their pre-eminence on the intergalactic tourist map by joining cosmic forces.

The little green men will be delighted. Britain's UFO capital and its US counterpart are to celebrate their pre-eminence on the intergalactic tourist map by joining cosmic forces.

Bonnybridge, the central Scottish town where up to 60,000 sightseeing Martians and other unexplained phenomena have been reported crossing the skies, plans to twin itself with Roswell in New Mexico. The American city, which entered alien-chasing folklore in 1947 when residents claimed a saucer-like vessel crashed in the surrounding desert, gave approval for the project to progress this week.

Such is the extent of suspected flying saucer activity in Scotland that the sky above Bonnybridge has been callled the "Golden Triangle" for its ability to attract aliens.

Bonnybridge (population 5,450) is also a popular destination for earth-bound enthusiasts, with thousands heading to see its extra-terrestrial lights every year.

Sensitive to jibes of the mad leading the mad, the twinning scheme's Scottish backers insist the link-up makes commercial sense. Even in the world of flying saucers, hard cash is what counts, they claim.

Billy Buchanan, the UFO-watching Falkirk councillor who dreamt up the twinning project, said: "You don't have to believe in UFOs to appreciate the possibilities for Bonnybridge."