But those living in Badersfield, home of the former RAF Coltishall airbase, say they heard a droning sound last night.

The alarm, described as an "air raid siren" by locals, echoed through the village at about 10.12pm on Monday.

It remains unknown what caused it to be set off.

One villager said: "It possibly went off at the Jaguar buildings, which are partly derelict RAF buildings.

"There's no confirmation as to where it came from or why it went off."

The former Ministry of Defence site was sold to Norfolk County Council in 2006.

HMP Bure, a Category C men's prison, can be found on part of the former base at Scottow.

Controversial plans to house 200 refugees in buildings which were once part of their airbase were scrapped on Monday.

Contractor BM Trust had been seeking temporary permission for 12 months to use the Jaguar Buildings at the base to house the migrants.

Home Office contractors BM Trust emailed officers at Broadland to announce the withdrawal of the proposals, but did not give a reason for the decision.

The airbase operated from 1939 to 2006.

It was a fighter airfield in the Second World War before becoming a station for night fighters and then ground attack aircraft.

Norfolk County Council has been contacted for comment about the incident.

© Eastern Daily Press