REPORTS of paranormal activity and witchcraft were just some of the calls reported and attended to by Devon and Cornwall Police in the last three years.

Details released in a freedom of information request showed how police have received 999 calls to report ghosts, zombies, UFO sightings or witchcraft in the area.

Around 30 reports of the mythical beings or extra-terrestrials were made since January 1, 2010.

Police attended and investigated 18 incidents after they deemed the calls as having affected the welfare of the caller or another individual, or there was reason to believe an offence may have occurred.

Some of the reports police attended include:

l A caller who claimed a neighbour next door was a practising witch and it had been 'going on for months'.

l A woman woke and thought she had a ghost in her room, the police checked with torches and found no-one else there.

l A caller reported being burgled, and assumed it was by paranormal beings such as witches.

l A man in Saltash who thought a caller was the ghost of Christmas past

l One incident in Exmouth saw police attend at 10.30pm when a man stated there were 'three children who wanted coffee but the ghosts wouldn't make it for them'.

Reports police officers did not attend included a woman who called about seeing a red light in the sky next to the moon and that it 'kept coming and going and she thought it was a UFO'.

A police spokesperson said: 'We grade every emergency call which is made to Devon and Cornwall Police according to risk to life and whether there is a genuine need for police attendance.

'While we would always encourage the public to call the police if they have a genuine cause or need, we would ask that anyone thinks very carefully before making an emergency call as a joke or prank.

'Any such call may result in criminal prosecution, but more importantly, may prevent a genuine, urgent call being taken.'