Russ Kellett, the Filey-based UFO investigator and the man behind this week's event, said he had been contacted by 91-year-old Emily Crew, who met the American ufologist George Adamski during his visit to this country in 1959.

He said: "She wants to meet us. She was involved in going to meetings and meeting people during the 1950s. She now lives in Cumbria and she's still interested."

The conference will take place tomorrow and Friday at the Spa Complex and one of the speakers is Glen Steckling, head of the American-based Adamski Foun- dation.

Mr Kellett said the highlight of the two days would be to hear people sharing their UFO experiences.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it and I am hoping to organise a bigger festival next year."

Harry Challenger, editor of the Flying Saucer Review magazine, will be the opening speaker and will unveil new evidence about the notorious Silpho Saucer, which was allegedly discovered on moors near the village in November 1957.

He is expected to talk about his time at the magazine, including success stories over the years, and detail the unusual crystalline structure of the metal from which the saucer was constructed.

The saucer-shaped object was discovered on November 21 1957, between Silpho and Hackness.

It measured 18 inches in diameter, weighed 35lb and when it was opened there were 17 thin copper sheets covered in strange hieroglyphics.

Mr Kellett is due to speak at the conference on both days and will relate his experiences of alien contact which directly led to his involvement in the investigation of unexplained phenomena.

He will also present video footage – including that of an unidentified object at Oliver's Mount earlier this year.

Other speakers include an abduction agony aunt, an animal mutilation expert and Win Keech, who will show footage of the formation of a crop circle in Wiltshire – possibly the only recorded evidence of such an event.

Mr Kellett said he was hoping for about 50 people to attend the conference each day.

He said: "If we get 50 on each day I think we will be doing fine. Anything over that is a bonus."

The conference will be held in the Spa's promenade and mezzanine bar Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October between 6pm and 11pm on both days.