Sonic boom shakes parts of county

An F-15 carried out a supersonic run over Norfolk

A sonic boom that shook a police HQ and homes across Norfolk was caused by an American F-15 fighter jet carrying out a supersonic run, the MoD said.

A single American Air force F-15 fighter carried out a supersonic run that ended above Cromer at lunchtime.

"The aircraft from RAF Lakenheath was flying above 10,000ft at the time of the run," an MoD spokesman said.

Sonic booms occur when an aircraft travels through the sound barrier, the British Geological Survey said.

An RAF Lakenheath spokeswoman confirmed there had been an aircraft in the area when the incident was reported, but said she was unable to confirm what it was.

'Desks shook'

A spokesman for the British Geological Survey said: "Sonic booms, which have quite similar effects to an earthquake, are common in the Norfolk area because of all the nearby military bases."

A Norfolk Police spokeswoman, based at Wymondham, told the BBC: "There was big rumble just after midday and the desks shook.

"At first we thought it had come from down the corridor but staff in other offices had a similar experience."

Nick Foulcher, a car mechanic in Hethersett, said he was working on a Rolls Royce when the doors to his workshop shook violently and his F1 memorabilia moved.

A Norfolk Fire and Rescue spokesman said he knew nothing of the event.