Mysterious orange lights seen floating in the sky over Bristol have now been identified.

The UFOs seen in a number of locations from Fishponds to Westbury-on-Trym were actually a new slow-burning alternative to fireworks, known as sky lanterns.

The Bristol Evening Post was flooded with calls from readers who had seen the bright orange lights in the sky at about 9.30pm on Saturday. Witnesses said the lights appeared to come from the centre of the city in groups of five, then hovered above Fishponds before disappearing.

We also received reports of residents in Barton Hill and Westbury-on-Trym seeing multi-coloured lights in the sky at about the same time.

Now it has been revealed that the lights were Thai Sky Lanterns, imported to Bristol by Rob Seeward, owner of the Allstar Fireworks shop in Gloucester Road. He said they had been selling like hot cakes.

The Bristol Eveninf Post tried 10 of them out on Bedminster Down last night and found they attracted attention as soon as they rose into the sky.

Teenagers, dog walkers and even a passing police officer stopped to find out more about the lanterns. They are made of rice paper and bamboo and the heat from a wick, which slowly burns, sends them into high into the air. They last about 20 minutes.

Danielle Jeffery and Holly Davis, both 14, and their friend Lauren Cocking, 16, came to see what the lights were.

Lauren said: "My sister saw the lights and said there were UFOs. I'm disappointed they're not."

Mr Seeward said: "At the beginning of the summer I went to Thailand and saw these sky lanterns and fell in love with them. They are so cool – a silent alternative to fireworks.

"They are becoming really popular in Bristol now, for birthdays and weddings.

"You light a candle underneath and the lantern floats up into the sky.

"One of my customers phoned me to say he had seen the story on the front of the Bristol Evening Post. We think the lights were definitely the sky lanterns because he had bought some for a birthday party and the guests had lit them in groups of five."

Several sky lanterns were also lit on the Stoke Lodge playing fields in Stoke Bishop after a wedding reception, which would explain the UFO sightings in Westbury-on-Trym.