Big ball of light floating ahead of me then it just vanished

I was just walking along one night when i was drawn to look at this thing jst floating there, i dont know how high it was off the ground but it was there , it had no solid shape or design it was just like a big ball of white light with lots of multi coloured dots in it with a sort of flame effect from behind it.
must have been staring for a few seconds when i turned to my friend and said LOOK, as soon as he turned towards it,he seen it to,then all of a sudden within a split second it changed direction without even moving and shot away faster than ive ever seen something move in my life and before i knew it wasnt there.
WHAT WAS IT, WHERE DID IT GO, HAS ANY1 ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS.
Witness indicates no date for the alleged event, and elects to remain anonymous.  Possible hoax, we wonder.  PD