UFO Sighting in Ashton-in-Makerfield, England on December 10th 2012 – hovering bright light for several minutes then shot across sky

I was stood on my back doorstep looking at the clear night sky suddenly a bright flame like ball appeared in my site. I thought it was a chinese lantern as it flickered but it did not move in any direction. I could not tell how high or far it was due to the dark night sky. After 10 minutes or so it was still in the same position. Suddenly the light seemed to shoot of in a straight line eastwards leaving a faint trail and going to a tiny dot that seemed in the distance. Before it disapeared i rang the police to report what i had seen to check if there had been a plane crash or other sightings. I was quite concerned about the nature of the very fast movement away and told friend within minutes. They thought i was being stupid but i was still concerned about it. Several days later my friend said he thought it may have been a meteor. I accepted that but the actions of it were not like a meteor or comet as i know.