When you think of a UFO investigator your image is probably of Mulder and Scully from TV's X Files, writes Nick Bourne from the Web Team. Well, think again. She decided to help set up the organisation to turn the amateur enthusaist into a seasoned professional of UFO investigation.By linking up enthusiasts from across Wales, Margaret and her fellow investigators are able to pool their research and cross reference sightings to monitor any links or similiarities between UFO cases.They can undergo training in research and investigation techniques to ensure all work is collated to a particular standard.

But where do they start?

Most enthusiasts watch the local media to see if any reports are carried in the local press. They then follow up the stories and begin their own research. For time-served investigators such as Margaret, whose name is widely known among the local community, they sometimes become the first point of contact when someone wants to report a sighting or a perceived phenomenon. Margaret has been living in North Wales for more than two decades. But she began her hunt for answers to UFO sightings nearly 40 years ago when, as a young mum living with her family in Kent, she had an alien encounter.

Margaret maintains an alien craft landed in her town and was witnessed by many other locals in July 1955. Since then she has investigated thousands of sightings and is a firm believer in alien life. In North Wales she is joined by a group of volunteers from varied, but often professional backgrounds. Among them is a retired police officer and a chemist and between the group they investigate reports of UFOs in North Wales. Their work has become easier over the years with a willingness among the wider public to accept that there might be other life in the universe. And so the calls come in. While people might be willing to consider that aliens exist, few want to speak publicly about their experiences. So sometimes the ufologists many receive the briefest of reports only.

Take for example the sighting by four women who reported seeing about 12 opaque circles rotating and sweeping across the sky at Towyn on August 14 1998. The phonecall by one of the group was short as the young woman said she and her friends did not want to get involved. But even these types of calls are important as they help to paint a picture if further similar calls are received. The Welsh Federation of Independent Ufologists have opened up their files for this web service to provide an insight into their work and the stories of strange encounters in North Wales. And Margaret has written a book, 'Who are they?' which is about alien abductions and paranormal events. For more information, write to Margaret Fry, Post Box No 197, Rhyl, LL18 1AA. Do you know of any other books which relate to paranormal incidents in the region?