Penguin
ALL IN GOOD SPIRIT
Four in ten Brits claim to have seen a ghost or UFO, a study revealed yesterday (wed).
Researchers found 40 per cent of people have had a paranormal experience, such as feeling the presence of a spirit or seeing an alien craft.
More than one in five of those reckon they have seen a ghost, while 19 per cent have spotted a mysterious object in the sky.
Another 16 per cent believe they have had premonitions while six percent even believe they have a guardian angel.
But while 21 per cent of those who have experienced something paranormal admitted they were terrified, 30 per cent said it left them feeling excited.
The research was commissioned by Penguin Books to mark the launch of sci-fi thriller 'I Am Number Four'.
Paranormal expert Malcolm Robinson, founder of Strange Phenomena Investigations, said: ''The people of the UK have overwhelmingly shown their belief in ghosts, UFOs and life on other planets and this survey is the clearest indication yet of the British public's acceptance of the weird and the wonderful.
''What this survey has clearly shown is that people believe that not all in the world is as cut and dried as we may like to think.
''Science does not know it all, there are many more things afoot that have still to be understood and as science progresses, it is my contention that those discoveries will be made.
''Belief is one thing, proving things is another hence the reason to continue research.''
The study of 3,000 Brits also revealed a staggering 83 per cent think there could be life on other planets, with 44 per cent even believing that aliens do visit Earth.
More than one in five even believe aliens could be living amongst us on earth and almost a quarter of Brits believe that aliens abduct people.
And more than half believe that, if aliens did exist, they would be just as sophisticated as humans.
But while 14 per cent say the thought of aliens existing and visiting earth terrifies them, 58 per cent reckon they would be fine with it.
Thirty-nine per cent of people believe aliens even look just like humans,but 14 per cent think they have a big head.
Another 12 per cent reckon they have a tall, thin body and almost 13 per cent believe they have the stereotypical green or glowing skin.
And of those who think they have seen an alien craft, a third said they saw bright lights hovering in the sky, while 22 per cent described it as coloured lights moving around.
Others said the Unidentified Flying Object resembled a disc or moved quickly across the sky.
The study also revealed that 49 per cent of Brits believe it is possible for certain people to be able to see into your future.
And 60 per cent would like to believe that friends and relatives who have passed away may be looking over them and acting as a guardian angel.
But more than a third of those who have witnessed something paranormal admitted they didn't tell anyone about their experience, with fears that they wouldn't be believed the biggest reason.
One in twenty said they were just too embarrassed while 28 per cent were worried people would think they were mad.
Mari Evans, Fiction Publisher for Michael Joseph at Penguin added: ''What this research shows is a strong appetite for the paranormal and the unexplained in the UK.''
Top five paranormal events Brits believe they have witnessed:
1. A ghost
2. A UFO sighting/unexplained objects in the sky
3. Premonitions
4. Accurate psychic readings
5. Guardian angel
