Worried Kent residents reported hearing loud gunfire and explosions from Shoeburyness firing range in Essex more than 30 miles away today.

They complained about window panes rattling along the coast and one from Charing, many miles inland, heard glasses vibrating in a cupboard.

Altered Future asked in a tweet this afternoon: "Any reports of explosions heard today at 1pm? Very deep sound. Glasses in cupboard vibrated. In Charing."

It later tweeted to this website: "Are u getting any reports of explosions in Kent? Heard several massive ones today in Charing."

Dr Paula Owens on the Isle of Sheppey, which is in the direct firing line across the Thames Estuary, tweeted to her local newspaper the Sheerness Times Guardian: "Shaky am (sic) Sheppey thanks to Shoeburyness blasts - rattling windows never mind fragile crumbling cliffs. Why blast anyway?"

The Shoeburyness range in Essex is operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. It is used to test new weapons and dispose of old ammunition.

The range issued a tweet earlier today to warn of gunfire and explosions from the earlier than usual time of 8am.

Similar blasts are expected tomorrow. Gunfire, explosions and smoke are predicted for Thursday.

A QinetiQ spokesman said: "MOD Shoeburyness is a live firing range used by the UK Ministry of Defence for more than 150 years to test the safety and effectiveness of equipment and skills required by our Armed Forces.

"Information about the range and its activities is published on our website and updates about expected noise are posted daily on Twitter (@SHB_Alerts).

"Independent, expert studies, including the most recent published in October last year, have found no evidence linking activity at the range with damage to property.

"But residents with specific concerns are invited to call our Careline free on 0800 0560108."

Full details of the latest noise and vibration study can be found on shoeburyness.qinetiq.com or on .GOV.UK

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