The truth may be out there but the evidence has so far proved inconclusive.

Now one of the world’s foremost UFO experts is heading for a two-day conference in Holmfirth.

Stanton T. Friedman, 81, a former nuclear physicist turned professional ufologist, will fly in from Canada for the 3rd International UFO Conference at Holmfirth Civic Hall.

More than 500 UFO believers from across Britain will descend on the town on the weekend of September 19 and 20.

The conference is organised by retired detective and leading ufologist Gary Heseltine, who moved to Holmfirth four years ago.

Dad-of-two Gary, 55, who now lives in Scholes, has collated more than 500 cases of UFO sightings involving over 1,000 British police officers.

Gary, who worked for British Transport Police for 24 years until his retirement in 2013, believes current UFO evidence is credible and would pass the test of law.

Former policeman turned UFO investigator Gary Heseltine, of Holmfirth, pictured in 1989 while training at the Ashford Police Training School in Kent
Former policeman turned UFO investigator Gary Heseltine, of Holmfirth, pictured in 1989 while training at the Ashford Police Training School in Kent

“I was a detective for a long time and was used to making sure the evidence stood up to the criminal law,” he said. “The evidence we look for is oral testimony, documentary evidence to support it and physical items such as a gun or a knife in a murder case.

“Looking at the very best UFO evidence worldwide there is 5% that apparently defies explanation. Investigate that further and you can discount 2% but that leaves around 3% that still defies explanation.

“For me this circumstantial evidence stacks up, just in the same way circumstantial evidence is used in a court of law. For example, there have been people convicted of murder without a body being found, if all the other evidence fits together.”

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Gary, who left the police to launch his own e-magazine UFO Truth, is excited to introduce Mr Friedman, a figure recognised beyond tight-knit UFO circles.

Friedman is best known for his work on the so-called Roswell Incident. In 1947 what was claimed to be a United States Airforce weather balloon crashed on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico.

Professional ufologist Stanton T. Friedman, one of the original civilian investigators of the Roswell UFO incident
Professional ufologist Stanton T. Friedman, one of the original civilian investigators of the Roswell UFO incident

Conspiracy theorists say the ‘balloon’ was, in fact, an alien spaceship which crash landed. Extra-terrestrial bodies were retrieved by the military and alleged autopies were conducted.

Friedman was the first civilian to investigate Roswell and supported the UFO theory. He believes earth has been visited for decades by ET.

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Other speakers heading to Holmfirth include Brazilian investigator A.J. Gevaerd, author and abductee Suzanne Hansen from New Zealand and Dave Hodrien, Britain’s leading abduction researcher, and filmmaker Richard D. Hall, presenter of the Richplanet TV show.

Gary, renowned as one of the world’s leading UFO researchers himself, will also address the conference, which runs for two full days.

Holmfirth-based UFO expert Gary Heseltine, a former detective and editor of UFO Truth Magazine.

Gary says the best UFO evidence comes from military or commercial pilots, radar operators and air traffic controllers but many are still too afraid of ridicule or fear for their careers if they go public.

Gary believes ET is real and watching. “My belief is that the earth is like the Great Barrier Reef where ET visits to watch in awe but not touch or take bits away,” he said.

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“We think we are evolved and intelligent but where are we? We are still a very young planet. Where will we be in 400 years? Not still driving round in petrol-driven cars, that’s for sure. Just look how far we have come in 1,000 years.

“In another 1,000 years we will have better propulsion systems meaning science fiction will become science fact.”

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Tickets cost £25 per day or £48 for both. The conference is close to being sold out.

For details ring 07970 364368.