The sonic boom heard over Oxfordshire on Thursday evening certainly caught the imagination.

Readers from Charlbury, Banbury, Hook Norton, Faringdon, Carterton, Bledington and Burford all reported hearing it.

The Ministry of Defence said later it was a typhoon jet scrambling to what turned out to be a false hijacking alert from a helicopter.

However, given the sonic bolt out of the blue that it was, it was not surprising that out on the internet not everyone was so accepting of the official explanation.

On our Facebook page, Paul ‘Beermonster’ Worth responded: “Bet it wasnt, just a cover up!!”

Marc Linekar responded: “Precisely......or it would have been released earlier...they’re trying to figure out what they can get away with feeding us.”

On Twitter, Chris Allman, of @HK_Yellow as he chooses to be known, was similarly sceptical: “Lots of strange rumours, remember you only get told what they want you to know or believe.”

On April 5, we incorrectly stated that the headteacher of Hill View Primary School in Banbury is Jo Dynan. The school’s actual headteacher is Claire Ferens. Ms Dynan is the chairman of governors. We apologise for the error.

Apologies to the citizens of Wood Farm. In Thursday’s edition we said David Brookes, 59, was facing court accused of exposure at a cafe in the suburb.

Mr Brookes, who lives in Foresters Tower in Wood Farm, is accused of committing the offence at Rainbow Cafe in Magdalen Street in the city centre.