Meteor rocks worth fortune sparks huge treasure hunt

RARE meteorite fragments worth astronomical sums are set to attract lockdown-defying space debris hunters, it is feared.

The blazing rock lit up the night sky before smashing into a wide area of the Cotswolds.

It is thought to have broken into basketball-sized pieces, some with a six-figure value. Many homes’ outdoor cameras captured Saturday’s event, set to break the world record as the most reported of its kind.

The International Meteor Organisation’s website has so far received 758 reports. Scientists at the UK Fireball Alliance think fragments cover an area of more than 100 square miles north-east of Cheltenham.

Dr Katherine Joy of Manchester University said: “If you find one on the ground, ideally photograph it in place and note the spot by phone GPS. Avoid touching it with a magnet or your hands.”

The last UK meteorite fragment was found near Peterborough in 1991. Pieces have previously sold for £700,000.

PETROL prices have gone up for the fourth month in succession.

Unleaded and diesel rose 3p a litre, adding almost £5 to the cost of filling a family hatchback, compared with late 2020.

Figures from the RAC show a litre of unleaded costs an average of 123.38p.

Diesel is 126.47p, up from 123.35p since the start of February.

A full tank of unleaded petrol now sets drivers back £67.86 compared with £62.98 in November.

Oil prices, which rose by $10 a barrel in February, are behind the increase.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Fears of further rises are looming large.”

GLOUCESTER METEOR Blazing rock filmed by a household camera near crash site