I HAVE just read a fascinating book called Chariots of The Gods? by Erich Van Daniken.

He asks the question if aliens, or spacemen as he refers them as, are the real reason behind religion?

There are cave paintings from thousands of years ago, that show what looks like beings in space suits, wearing helmets.

There are markings in Peru, that could be ancient landing sites for alien crafts and there are stories from the oldest books that tell of Gods who rode in the sky in ships and who came from the stars.

Were the fiery chariots that came from the skies flying saucers, and were the people inside them decribed as “Gods” by ancient man?

Maybe the places that these crafts landed became holy ground, and pyramids and temples were built on them in their honour? I am sure what is set in stone from the past and drawn on the walls of primitive caves prove that spacemen from the stars have been here, but who were they?

Christopher Wardell, Darlington.