Tremors across area thought to be from aircraft activity

SHAKING homes and ground tremors were felt following reports of an ‘earthquake’ in West Lancashire that experts later said was a ‘sonic event’.

The British Geological Society (BGS) said it initially received reports of a suspected earthquake at around 11am on February 15.

Hundreds of people took to social media saying they felt their houses ‘doors and windows banging’ and sounds similar to a ‘small explosion’, prompting panic there had been an earthquake.

But following analysis, experts said there was ‘no record of any seismic activity at this time in the area’.

Seismologists said the data and signals were consistent with a ‘sonic event’ as opposed to movements in the ground.

According to flightradar24 a Royal Air Force jet had been flying in the area around the time the “mini earthquake” was reported.

BGS said BAE Systems confirmed they had planes in the air at the time but couldn’t confirm at this time “if any had gone supersonic.”

In a statement on Twitter, a BGS spokesperson said: “BGS has no record of any seismic activity at this time in the area. However we do have signals that may consistent with an event of a sonic origin.”

They later added: “GS has received numerous reports from residents mainly in the

Lancashire area but also Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire who reported a felt event sometime around 11am today.

“Data from BGS seismic networks were examined and signals consistent with a possible sonic origin were recorded at that time.

“British Aerospace confirmed they did have aircraft airborne at the time and two RAF aircraft but cannot confirm at this time if any had gone supersonic.”

Dozens of readers said that they heard a “rumble” or felt the ground shake.

Clo Anderton-Baines said her doors and windows made a bang. “Omg yeah. All my doors and windows was banging. What was it?” She said.

Several residents compared the noise to a “big lorry”.

Angela Melvin said: “My daughter felt it in Banks.”

Kathryn Rose Lally said: “Yep! Definitely heard in Scarisbrick!”