'Sonic boom' is heard across skies of Essex

A large bang was heard across parts of Essex including Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon this afternoon.

The noise was also heard in parts of London and Cambridgeshire.

The sonic boom is thought to have been caused by an aircraft flyng overhead. 

Royal Air Force Typhoons launched from RAF Coningsby at about 1pm this afternoon.

Dozens of shocked residents have taken to social media to say they heard the sonic boom.

Some have reported their homes were shaken by the noise. 

Cambridge City Council tweeted: "If you heard a massively loud bang over Cambridge in the last few minutes, don't panic - apparently it was the sonic boom from a fighter plane breaking the sound barrier!"

One Epping Forest councillor posted this video of the boom on Twitter:

Sonic boooooom. Thought it was my parking at first 😂 pic.twitter.com/S44RFAkiw8

— Cllr_Owen (@cllr_owen) January 12, 2021

TV Star Rylan Clark-Neal posted on Twitter after hearing the noise.

Wish I’d checked Twitter before I decided to single handedly , automatic wine opener in hand inspect upstairs thinking a flying burglar had broken into my loft that was bloody loud #sonicboom

— Rylan Clark-Neal (@Rylan) January 12, 2021

Residents also took to Twitter to express their shock.

#sonicboom over Essex made me jump!

— Samantha Elliott (@SammiF1) January 12, 2021

Exciting times! A sonic boom appears to have scared the living daylights out of Essex! Made me jump! #sonicboom #bigbang #essex

— simply.winging.it (@Sue64650731) January 12, 2021

Sonic boom over Essex just now! Sounded like slamming doors heard all over the county! #essex #sonicboom

— Samantha Hay (@SamSamhay) January 12, 2021

Did you hear the sonic boom?

Let us know in the comments below.