THE former chief of a secret US government programme claims UFOs really do exist.

Luis Elizondo claims proof of their existence has been "proved beyond reasonable doubt" after heading a secret £16million investigation into the existence of extraterrestrial life.

5 Luis Elizondo has claimed the existence of UFOs has been 'proven beyond reasonable doubt' Credit: YouTube

Speaking to The Telegraph Elizondo said: "I think it's pretty clear this is not us, and it's not anyone else, so one has to ask where they're from.

"In my opinion, if this was a court of law, we have reached the point of 'beyond reasonable doubt'. I hate to use the term UFO but that's what we're looking at."

He said much of what he could discuss was still classified but said there had been "lots" of UFO sightings during the programme.

He was unable to comment on whether his team had examined sightings in other countries including the UK.

5 Sightings of UFOs were said to frequently appear near nuclear facilities and power plants. File picture. Credit: Getty - Contributor

During the investigation geographical 'hot spots' emerged near nuclear facilities and power plants.

Since the revelation of the US government programme attention has been focused on footage of an unidentified object off San Diego, California, in 2004.

The Pentagon confirmed that audio and video of two US Navy pilots chasing an unidentified flying object near San Diego was investigated as part of the programme.

While not hostile in its manoeuvrability Elizondo claims the UFO sightings made onlookers conscious "something could happen."

United States navy pilots encounter bizarre UFO in video released by US the Department of Defense

Luis Elizondo oversaw the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, which ran for five years between 2007 and 2012.

Footage, released in August, claims to show a UFO rotating while maintaining a “glowing aura”.

The programme was set up by retired US Democratic Senator Harry Reid.

Most of the money for the programme went to an aerospace research company run by billionaire entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who is currently working with NASA.

5 Pentagon officials confirmed the £16million investigation into the existence of UFOs

5 Since the existence of the secret programme was revealed attention has focused on footage of '2004 encounter' near San Diego, California Credit: US Department of Defense

Mr Reid confirmed he set up the program, adding: “I’m not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing going.

“I think it’s one of the good things I did in my congressional service.

I’ve done something that no one has done before.”

5 Retired US Democratic Senator Harry Reid set up the programme Credit: Reuters

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Last week Pentagon officials acknowledged the existence of the programme but insisted efforts had ceased in 2012.

But Mr Elizondo confirmed that he continued to work with officials from the Navy and the CIA on the program until he resigned from office in October.

He quit in protest over excessive secrecy and lack of resources for the programme.

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