There's something going on in the sky above Sussex according to paranormal enthusiast Paul Triballi - and now David Icke has taken up his cause.

Mysterious X-shaped cloud formations have appeared overhead and, although they could be mistaken for jet streams left by passing aircraft, the 20-year-old, of Grove Hill, Brighton, thinks they could be a phenomenon known as chemtrails.

Thousands of people across the globe have collected information on the internet about these criss-cross markings in the sky.

They are convinced the streaks of vapour are the work of unscrupulous Government agencies.

The cover-up theorists are convinced chemtrails form part of a plot to alter the weather, spread a mass vaccination programme or even attempt to control the population through gradual poisoning.

And Paul has taken dozens of pictures of the phenomenon over Brighton.

His images have now been posted on the official web site of sportscaster-turned-'Son of God' David Icke.

Paul hopes coverage on davidicke.com will put him in touch with like-minded people who can help him find out more about chemtrails.

He said: "Most people do not even look in the sky as they are too busy just walking around with their head down.

"I read about chemtrails on a few web sites and a couple of weeks I go I looked and thought I saw something suspicious up there.

"Planes don't normally cross each others path like that unless they are the Red Arrows or something. In the past couple of days they seemed to have intensified and they also seem to affect the weather in some way."

Paul dismisses any claims of paranoia. He said: "I'm sure these trails have a purpose but I don't know what it is.

"That is why I'm concerned and I would like to know more. If they aren't harmful why can't they just let us know what is going on?"

But an expert in the phenomenon, based at the University of Sussex, told us he believed the theory was pie in the sky.

He said: "I think it is highly unlikely that these are deliberate. To me it just looks like the paths of planes crossing."

Chemtrail believers say they differ from the trails left by jets because they never evaporate.

But the expert, who works in the chemistry department but asked to remain anonymous, added: "If these formations stay together I would say it is because there is not a great deal of wind or other disturbance at that altitude. It can be windy down on the ground but not necessarily up there.

"These could quite easily be planes, especially around the south of England where you have a great deal of air traffic. I cannot see any reason to suspect anything sinister."