Just before 6pm last night, beams of light could be seen moving through the clouds – prompting several locals to take to social media to find out what was happening.
According to members of the Daily Echo Camera Club on Facebook, the strange phenomenon could be seen over Bitterne and as far afield as Hythe.
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Strange lights over Southampton. What could they be? (Image: Lee Churchill) Speculation was rife about what the lights could be – prompting some tongue-in-cheek answers – including several people claiming it was the beginning of an alien invasion.
One member was ready to get his tin-foil hat on, joking: “I’m not saying it’s aliens… but…”
On Reddit, people were equally perplexed.
One user said it was ‘an attack by Pompey’ and another claimed it was ‘dognappers’, warning: ‘they’ll be back’.
There was one-recurring answer though which seemed the most plausible: a rehearsal for the Evolution: The Drone Light Show at the Utilita Bowl tonight (Saturday, October 16).
Julie Yeates could see the lights from Hythe (Image: Julie Yeates) Several social media users who claimed to live near the venue said they could see the lights coming from the sports ground.
The description of the show on the Utilita Bowl website said: “Witness the recreation of monumental moments in history – from the Big Bang and reign of the dinosaurs right through to the modern-day moon landings and life as it is today.
“Expect immersive storytelling of extraordinary proportions, in a brand-new narrated show with a powerful cinematic soundtrack.”
