Fragments of ‘Valentine’s fireball’ meteorite fall in southern Italy

Object hit balcony in Matera and remnants in pristine condition - almost as if we collected it directly from space', says expert

Residents of southern Italy's picturesque and ancient city of stone" have been gripped by another rocky phenomenon after a meteorite crash-landed on the balcony of a home in Matera's suburbs.

The space object, which had been travelling at about 200mph, was spotted in the skies above the Puglia and Basilicata regions on 14 February, becoming known as Valentine's fireball", before falling on to the balcony of the home of brothers Gianfranco and Pino Losignore and their parents.