Two Typhoon jets that had to leave "in a hurry" were responsible for a "massive bang" felt across Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire on Friday afternoon.

It was originally thought the loud explosion-type bang was caused by an aircraft leaving RAF Brize Norton, but a spokesman from the Ministry of Defence said it was in fact an aircraft launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

One stunned mother from Northampton mistook the sonic boom of the two jets for a terror attack.

Amanda Drage was making a video of her daughter Billie-Jane riding a a Shetland pony when she felt the ground move beneath her feet.

She said: "I thought it was a terror attack to be perfectly honest, or maybe a gas explosion.

"The ground vibrated so I thought 'this must be massive'."

The following statement was released from the MoD: "Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft.

"Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely escorted to Cardiff airport."

Residents reported hearing a sonic boom likened to an explosion at about 3.55pm.

NPAS Benson tweeted that the 'explosion' was actually an "aircraft in a hurry" after residents and workers in Oxford, Witney, Bicester, Adderbury, parts of Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes took to Twitter to express consternation after the explosion rattled windows and doors.

It was earlier confirmed that two Typhoon jets left quickly this afternoon, possibly for "government security" reasons.

It was first thought the aircraft left RAF Brize, but it was in fact the base in Lincolnshire.

Sara Chubb, media officer at RAF Brize Norton, said: “It was two Typhoons.

“They go supersonic when they need to make a quick reaction, potentially for a government security reason.

“But we don’t get that sort of information.”

A sonic boom was reportedly caused by the speeding aircraft.

Gareth Williams, facilities manager at OPP in Cutteslowe, said he heard the bang.

He said: "Initially I thought it was the door blowing shut, then checked that the shed hadn’t fallen down and then checked the boiler hadn’t blown up."

The announcement will ease the minds of many residents, some of whom speculated it was a bomb or an asteroid striking the South East.

The mysterious explosion in Oxford being reported right across the city. What on earth was it?! — Adam G Barnett (@Adamgbarnett) April 8, 2016

@OxMailHannahS I was in garden. Very loud, like a sonic boom. Sounded like possibly a bomb going off. Friend heard it inside Tesco, Bicester — Glen (@glenharfield) April 8, 2016

What the hell was that explosion in #Witney? Some people saying it was a sonic boom but whatever it was, it rattled our patio doors big time — Andy Simms (@asimms40) April 8, 2016