A SPECTACULAR crop circle has appeared on Normanton Down, near Stonehenge.

The elaborate design measures 740ft across and is considered very sophisticated.

Just a fraction smaller than Britain's largest-ever crop circle, which appeared last year, the formation comprises a network of paths and slender curves, radiating outwards from a central point.

The crop circle, which is invisible from the ground, was discovered two weeks ago by a pilot on a routine training flight from Thruxton.

He reported that the field housing the formation had been empty the previous day.

No signs of mud or obvious footmarks were found on the flattened crop, and three sides of the formation touch ancient long barrows neolithic burial mounds.

The farmer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "We went to see the circle the next day and you could just feel the energy your fingers started tingling and you could feel a tightening in your chest.

"The divining rods were also doing their thing, but there is a concentration of ley lines around Stonehenge.

"I don't know how it formed, but I do know that you can't stand in a field with 20 men and make that pattern.

"It has clearly not been done with planks of wood either because you just couldn't have co-ordinated that design, it's so intricate."