Alien Arrival Would Cost Bookmaker A Million

A British bookmaker will pay out £1 million if UFO activity is confirmed this week.

Tales of aliens and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have played a large part in modern fiction writing and filmmaking, but relatively few people believe such things actually exist.

Among those who do is Wiltshire gambler Lawrence Tout, who has backed his beliefs with his cash.

Having seen a rumour on the internet that UFOs are set to arrive during the next few days, Mr Tout bet £1,000 with William Hill that either Gordon Brown or George Bush would confirm alien activity within a week.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said Mr Tout's 1,000/1 bet was the largest UFO-related wager ever.

"He is not alone in believing the prediction that we will be visited by aliens next week and we face a massive, million-pound plus payout if it happens," Mr Sharpe added.

Several online gambling firms specialise in unusual markets, with punters prepared to look hard enough able to bet on anything from whether the Google Lunar X prize will be won to the likelihood of the UK adopting the Euro.