A UFO landed at a primary school in Basingstoke.

Green goo covered the area and the craft, cordoned off in a corner of the playing fields, was guarded by community wardens.

But fortunately for the startled pupils at South View Junior School, in Shooters Way, South View, the crash site had been mocked-up by teachers for a writing exercise.

The spaceship took about 16 hours to build using satellite dishes, silver sticky back plastic, fairy lights and a step ladder.

After looking at the alien craft, the children had to write a front-page newspaper story about the event.

The exercise was part of Everybody Writes Day, which was set up by the National Literary Trust to get children excited about writing.

Elizabeth Sheldon, literacy co-ordinator at the school, said: “The children were so excited, and I think they believed in it too.”