IT had crop circle enthusiasts talking about ancient energy lines and eerie goings-on.

Overnight, there appeared by magic the strangest crop circle ever produced in the shape of an electric plug. But today the mystery over the formation in a field near Swindon has finally been solved.

It was all a hoax, part if an elaborate publicity stunt by the cereal manufacturer Weetabix.

The giant two-acre plug at Beckhampton resembles the one featured in the brand's latest spoof advert, which ends with a picture of an image in which Weetabix biscuits take the form of the three electric pins.

David Hughes, owner of the farm land comments: "I have been totally flooded with visitors who have travelled from afar to investigate the image. Most people accept that it is from Weetabix, but rather oddly, some of the sci-fi experts still think that it is a message from beyond."

Bill Humes, commercial director of Weetabix said: "The intention of the crop circle was to complement the latest advertising campaign, which positions Weetabix as an energy provider.

"However, the interest we have received has been totally unprecedented. Since announcing that we are responsible for the crop circle, our phone lines have been inundated it really has been positively overwhelming."