US fighter jet causes sonic boom heard in Lincolnshire

A US fighter jet, similar to this one, caused a sonic boom when it "inadvertently" broke the sound barrier

A sonic boom caused by a US fighter jet was heard in parts of Lincolnshire.

Residents in Boston and the surrounding area reported "a thumping bang" on Thursday morning.

One said it was like "a mortar going off", while others reported their houses shaking.

The RAF has confirmed a US F-35A jet from RAF Lakenheath "inadvertently" broke the sound barrier during a routine training exercise in the county.

A sonic boom is the noise of shockwaves created when an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound.

Carole, in Hubbert's Bridge, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "That was such a big bang - I honestly thought my roof had come off.

"I had to go outside and walk all the way round as I was sure that something really big had happened."

Local resident Ros said she had been walking the dog at the time of the bang.

"It was like multiple bird scarers going off in one go," she said.

Kate, in Kirton, reported hearing "a thumping bang". She said: "It sounded like a mortar going off."

A spokesperson for RAF Lakenheath said: "While these trainings were conducted in accordance with the MOD and UK airspace regulations, an aircraft inadvertently broke the sound barrier causing a sonic boom a few miles south of Peterborough this morning.

"Any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted. Routine trainings like this remain a demonstration of our commitment to collective defense and co-operative security alongside the UK and our other allies and partners in the region."

Last year, a sonic boom was recorded by a doorbell camera in Bourne after RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft flew overhead.