Alien invasion is ruled out by Wigan Council chiefs

Council chiefs have quashed fears from residents about green gel spotted on street lights in a Wigan town being connected to crime.
Fears that an alien invasion was responsible for green slime across the community have been quashed. (Picture: Coun Anthony Sykes)Fears that an alien invasion was responsible for green slime across the community have been quashed. (Picture: Coun Anthony Sykes)
Fears that an alien invasion was responsible for green slime across the community have been quashed. (Picture: Coun Anthony Sykes)

Locals had reported seeing men dressed in black going around in a van painting green gel on lampposts and fences around Ashton, with some thinking it was a signal for burglars and dog thieves - or even more mysterious, the after effects of an alien invasion.

But Wigan Council who have received multiple calls from residents about the gel, said it is used as part of “ultrasound structural testing” of the council’s lighting columns and not “connected to criminal activity.”

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The authority insisted that the gel is “completely harmless and routine for the work”.

In a statement they said: “The council’s contact centre has received calls from residents concerned about green gel on streets lights in the town and worried it could be connected to criminal activity.

“Please be reassured this is being used as part of ultrasound structural testing of the council’s lighting columns.

“The gel is completely harmless and routine for the work.”

But people on social media expressed their bemusement at the work, with one person commenting that “sending lads in all black painting green gel” raised “questions and paranoia”.

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While others joked that the council’s reason “sounds like the unconvincing excuse of an official body in an episode of Dr Who”, and that “the aliens are coming”.

Local councillor Anthony Sykes even took to Twitter saying that he had reported the matter to police, tweeting: “Reports of blokes in van putting green slime on electric light bulb posts in Ashton.

“Folk thinking it’s signal for burglars /dog thieves. I’ve made local @GMPWigan aware."