Researchers have calculated that up to 37,964 worlds in our galaxy are
hospitable enough to be home to creatures at least as intelligent as ourselves.

Astrophysicist Duncan Forgan created a computer programme that collated all
the data on the 330 or so planets known to man and worked out what proportion
would have conditions suitable for life.

The estimate, which took into account factors such as temperature and
availability of water and minerals, was then extrapolated across the Milky Way.

Mr Forgan believes that the life forms would not be amoeba wriggling on the
end of a microscope but species at least as advanced as humans.

Mr Forgan, who believes it will take 300 to 400 years for us to make contact
with our neighbours, said: "I believe the estimate of 361 intelligent
civilisations to be the most accurate.

"These would certainly be the most Earth-like civilisations but the bigger
figures are certainly possible. We can't rule them out.

"Most of the other planets we have looked at are older than our own – so I
would expect to see more advanced civilisations than ours existing."