United Kingdom - Crop circle experts believe the latest pattern to be discovered, a phoenix rising from the flames in Wiltshire, may give a warning about the end of the world.

The 400-foot design was discovered in a barley field in Yatesbury near Devizes and depicts the mythical phoenix reborn as it rises from the ashes.

Investigators claim more formations are referencing the possibility of a cataclysmic event occurring on December 21, 2012, which coincides with the end of the ancient Mayan calendar.

The Mayan’s believed civilisation exists within a series earth cycles of 144,000 days each with the 13th expiring in December 2012, resulting in Armageddon.

Crop circle enthusiast Karen Alexander, from Gosport, Hants, said: “The phoenix is a mythical creature which symbolizes rebirth and a new era in many cultures across the world.

“Within the crop circle community many believe the designs are constantly referring to December 21 and its aftermath.

“This could be interpreted as the human race or earth rising again after a monumental event.

“The patterns are becoming more intricate with every find and it is exciting to think how they are going to evolve by the time we get to 2012.”

Recent crop circles have included giant jelly-fish and one image discovered in Wiltshire in June which experts dubbed the most “mind boggling” they had ever come across.

The formation, measuring 150ft in diameter, is apparently a coded image representing the first 10 digits, 3.141592654, of pi.