A sonic boom has been heard across parts of the East of England after the RAF attended an incident.

The loud bang was reported in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire at around 11.30 on Friday.

The RAF has confirmed the boom was due to Typhoon fighter aircraft launching to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control.

The plane, which had been travelling from Nice, has been escorted into Stansted airport by the RAF.

An RAF spokesperson said: "We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control, communications were re-established and the aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted.

"The Typhoons are returning to bas

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