Hundreds of conspiracy theorists have flocked to a sell-out 'Flat Earth' conference in North Carolina.

The first annual Flat Earth International Conference was billed as a social gathering for those who believe our planet is shaped like a flat disc instead of a sphere.

The conference, which charged up to $249 (£188) per ticket, saw as many as 400 people attend from around the world.

Sessions at the event, many of which were hosted by popular Flat Earth YouTubers, included 'Nasa and other space lies' and 'Waking up to mainstream science lies'.

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Hundreds of conspiracy theorists have flocked to a sell-out 'Flat Earth' conference in North Carolina. The first annual Flat Earth International Conference was billed as a social gathering for those who believe our planet is shaped like a flat disc (pictured) instead of a sphere

FLAT EARTH THEORY Those who believed the Flat Earth Theory claim our planet is shaped like a flat disc instead of a sphere. Because Earth's surface looks and feels flat when we walk around it, the conspiracy theorists denounce all evidence to the contrary. The leading theory suggests Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the centre and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall (45-metre) wall of ice, around the rim. Theorists claim that satellite images and evidence pointing to a spherical Earth are part of a 'round Earth conspiracy' orchestrated by Nasa and other government agencies. Followers of the bizarre theory also claim the Earth is stationary in space rather than orbiting the sun. But the international scientific community has consistently denounced the bizarre theory, putting forward decades of space imagery and astronomical research to back their claims. Advertisement

Hosts and attendees claimed their experiments and rationale proves the international scientific community is wrong about the Earth's shape.

The event was held at a centre in Raleigh, North Carolina, last week from November 9-10.

Its website read: 'Join us this November to learn why we dissent from the spinning heliocentric theory of cosmology.

'At the 2018 Flat Earth International Conference, we will uncover and debunk pseudo-scientific "facts" while presenting the true evidence which shockingly points to our existence on a flat, stationary plane.'

Mark Sargent, who has over 40,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, said in a Q&A session at the event: 'Science is gonna have to address this, plain and simple. They cannot dodge us forever.'

In spite of the conference's title, the event didn't just discuss Flat Earth theory, with sessions over the two-day meet-up covering a range of conspiracy theories.

The supposed 'faked moon landing' was examined along with 'international treaties' that cover up the true nature of Antarctica - which some believe is at Earth's edge.

Hosts and attendees claimed their experiments and rationale prove science is wrong about the Earth's shape. YouTuber Mark Sargent (pictured) said: 'Nobody likes this uncomfortable feeling to be in this tiny ball, flying through space in this cast end of the universe'

The conference, which charged up to $249 (£188) per ticket, saw as many as 400 people attend from around the world

Other talks claimed the 9/11 terror attacks were faked and that the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary school were a government cover-up.

Organisers have already planned a follow-up, with the 2018 Flat Earth International Conference scheduled for next November.

Mr Sargent told BBC News: 'Nobody likes this uncomfortable feeling to be in this tiny ball, flying through space in this cast end of the universe.'

Holding up a disc-shaped model of what he believes the Earth looks like, Mr Sargent added: 'So as far as what's underneath this, I don't know, it could be this thickness.

'It doesn't even have to be that think, because we can only drill down eight miles [13 km]. Heck, this is only fifty miles [80 km] deep, we don't know.

'Don't take my word for it - I could be a mental patient recently released from an institution.'

Sessions at the event, many of which were hosted by popular Flat Earth YouTubers, included 'Nasa and other space lies' and 'Waking up to mainstream science lies'. Pictured are some of the Flat Earth models on display at the conference

In spite of the conference's title, the event didn't just discuss Flat Earth theory, with sessions over the two-day meet-up covering a range of conspiracy theories. Pictured are two of the conference's attendees discussing Flat Earth theory

Organisers have already planned for a follow-up, with the 2018 Flat Earth International Conference scheduled for next November. Pictured is an attendee at the event

Those who believed the Flat Earth Theory claim our planet is shaped like a flat disc instead of a sphere.

Because Earth's surface looks and feels flat when we walk around it, the conspiracy theorists denounce all evidence to the contrary.

The leading theory suggests Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the centre and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall (45-metre) wall of ice, around the rim.

Theorists claim that satellite images and evidence pointing to a spherical Earth are part of a 'round Earth conspiracy' orchestrated by Nasa and other government agencies.

Followers of the bizarre theory also claim the Earth is stationary in space rather than orbiting the sun.

But the international scientific community has consistently denounced the bizarre theory, putting forward decades of space imagery and astronomical research to back their claims.