THE £44,000 Ministry of Defence department that investigated UFO sightings - based in High Wycombe - has been closed after almost 60 years.

MoD chiefs said there was no benefit to investigating sightings.

The department assessed threats posed by any Unidentified Flying Objects sightings throughout Britain and was moved from London to RAF Command at Naphill a year ago.

It has dealt with more than 12,000 reports, including 135 last year.

MoD chiefs made the decision to close the department, established in 1950, after deciding it was “an inappropriate use of defence resources”.

An MoD Spokesman said it was a one-man department and dealing with the reports was just one part of their job. They have not been made redundant.

The decision was revealed after a Freedom of Information request. A response on the MoD website reads: “The MoD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life. However, in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom.”

The hotline answer-phone service and e-mail address was withdrawn on December 1.

The spokesman added: “Our resources are focussed on the priority – the front line in Afghanistan. Any legitimate threat to the UK air space will be spotted by our 24/7 radar checks and will be dealt with by RAF fighter aircraft.