Police constable launched investigation into suspicious light source which was later found to be the moon

A police constable has risked embarrassment after launching an investigation into a "suspicious light source" which was later found to be the moon. The constable was on duty late one evening last month when he spotted a "shining light" glowing over Clent Hills, a range of scenic peaks which rise up more than 1,000ft in Worcestershire. He radioed his sergeant, telling him he was "off up the hills" to investigate the "suspicious bright light" from 'over the other side of the hills'.

He warned that as he was "single-crewed" he might require back-up if he found a crime in progress. The area is known as a hotspot for outdoor sex - and it is believed the officer thought he might catch offenders engaged in sexual activity when he mistook the bright light of the moon for car headlights. After a 20-minute walk up the hills, however, the red-faced officer radioed his sergeant back, telling him that the 'light source' was in actual fact the moon.



The incident is believed to have taken place on August 31, the night of the second full moon of the month - a phenomenon known as a blue moon. The magazine Police reported this week: "While single-crewed on night duty in Worcestershire a PC called up his sergeant letting him know that he was going up into the Clent Hills to investigate a 'suspicious bright light' that he could see shining from the other side of the hills. The call was for safety reasons as he might need back up once he found the source.

"Twenty minutes later the PC called his sergeant back to reassure him that everything was okay and that he had found the source of the light. This diligent PC had in fact discovered the moon." A police source said : "The officer was a little reluctant to come back on duty the next day. He knew he was going to get a ribbing and he's had pictures of werewolves put on his locker by some of the more unforgiving officers. It will take a long time for him to live this one down."