THE first Wiltshire crop circle of the 2002 season appeared in a field of rape on the slopes of Cannings Down, near Beckhampton, on Monday.

Crop circle investigator Michael Glickman from Horton, reported the new formation, very close to the spot where, in 2000, a large and impressive 11-fold design appeared in a field of wheat.

The new formation is 135ft at its widest point and consists of a large raised circle of the 5ft high rape, itself sitting within a flat circular area.

Crop circle investigator Charles Mallett describes it as 'celestial' in look and feel, appearing like three satellites and a planet.

He said: "All the laid areas are quite neat and tidy, at a glance, with most of the plants neatly swept to the floor and laying very flat.

"Large proportions of the downed crop are quite badly broken or kinked, leaving us with the impression that a number of people had visited it before us.

"Once a formation in such a delicate medium has had visitors, our ability to make any realistic judgements about the validity of the event becomes very difficult indeed.

"That said, this simple formation does look good from the A361 and is well worth the effort to see, at least from this vantage point."

The first formation of 2002 reported in England was a month ago at Long Road, Soberton, Hampshire.