WAS it a bird? Was it a plane? No: it was a fireball over Penarth - according to one town resident anyway.

Translator Elisabeth Griffin was left with hot flushes recently after seeing what she described as a ‘fireball’ soaring overhead.

The Cornerswell Road resident had gone for a relaxing stroll when she saw the sizzling sight above Victoria playing fields.

"I was taken aback by this unsual but fantastic object in the sky," she said.

"I knew it wasn’t a plane immediately because it was too big and too bright.

"It literally stopped me in my tracks as I saw it pass me overhead - it must have taken about a minute."

But Elisabeth, originally from Germany, said she had no idea where it could have come from.

"I have never seen anything like it before in my life, although I have heard similar reports of strange lights in the sky around here recently," she added.

"Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera – but I won’t leave it behind again."