South African 'UFO' was US rocket

Both the objects landed on farms

Metal objects which fell to earth in South Africa have been identified as coming from a US rocket used to launch satellites.

Three pieces crashed out of orbit and there has been concern that more may follow.

The witnesses said it was white-hot when it landed

Police Superintendent Andre Kellerman

"They are definitely from a Delta II rocket," said Cees Rijswijk at Cape Town's observatory. "There could be more on the way, but the chances of anyone getting hit by one are rather less than of being run over by a bus."

The three parts, which fell on farmland due east of Cape Town, have been identified as coming from the motor of the rocket.

Police statements

Dr Rijswijk added: "There are more than 8,000 pieces of debris in orbit above us, all of them being closely monitored. As most of the Earth is covered with water, the chances are that most will not hit land when they fall."

Two of the objects were described as "big metal balls", the first weighing about 30kg (65 pounds) and the second about 50kg (110 pounds).

Superintendent Andre Kellerman said the Department of Civil Aviation had asked the police to collect the object and to take statements from witnesses who had seen it fall.

Peter Viljoen, on whose land the ball fell, said farm workers had heard a noise like two loud gun shots, and had seen the shining ball falling to the earth. The impact left an impression in the ground about 20cm (eight inches) deep.

It took more than half an hour before the object was cool enough to move, Mr Viljoen said.