The crop circle season in Wiltshire is well under way with some superb and sizeable formations appearing in fields in the Devizes and Marlborough area.

The first formation appeared in a field close to Avebury stone circle on April 14.

It is classic in its simplicity and bodes well for the rest of the season.

A few days later, on April 19, a twin-eye design appeared in a field of rape close to West Kennett Long Barrow.

It is 211ft in diameter and was first seen from the air early in the morning.

It is particularly large and complex for an early spring formation.

It is in marked contrast to the rather primitive shape that appeared at Liddington Castle hill fort near Chiseldon on April 25. It is simply four asymmetric circles connected by straight lines.

A stunning spiral design arrived at Roundway Hill, Devizes, close to the Millennium White Horse, on April 29. It measures around 200 ft across and is also in rape.

May saw the arrival of what is likely to be one of the most impressive formations of the year.

The huge pictogram, measuring 800ft long by 250ft across appeared on the morning of May 4 in a field between Clatford and Manton.

A floral design was seen in a field close to All Cannings Bridge early on May 6. It is 202ft in diameter.

Crop circle investigator Michael Glickman said he was heartened by the quality and variety of the early circles this year and predicted a record year for formations.

But he renewed his appeal to local farmers to preserve the formations for as long as possible.

He said: “Some farmers dismiss these remarkable features as vandalism, but they attract between £6 million and £8 million to the local economy each year through extra business to shops, pubs, hotels, petrol stations and so on.

“Farmers can make some money for themselves as well.”