Earthquake hits England

People in Newcastle, Yorkshire, London, Manchester, the Midlands and Norfolk and also parts of Wales, felt the tremor just before 0100 GMT.

The BGS recorded an aftershock with a magnitude of 1.8 at about 0400 GMT.

The main 10-second quake, which struck at 0056 GMT at a depth of 15.4km (9.6 miles), was the biggest recorded example since one with a magnitude of 5.4 struck north Wales in 1984.

PREVIOUS QUAKES IN THE UK

April 2007 - Folkestone, Kent (magnitude 4.3)

December 2006 - Dumfries and Galloway (3.5)

September 2002 - Dudley, West Midlands (5.0)

October 2001 - Melton Mowbray (4.1)

September 2000 - Warwick (4.2)

April 1990 - Bishop's Castle, Shropshire (5.1)

July 1984 - Nefyn, north Wales (5.4)

June 1931 - in North Sea near Great Yarmouth (6.1)

Dr Baptie said: "The largest earthquake that we know about that has struck the UK was about 100km off the east coast of England on the Dogger Bank and it had a magnitude of 6.1.

"So we can get these kind of moderate to significant earthquakes of this size but they're relatively rare."

Thousands of people from across England contacted the BBC to described how their homes shook during the tremor.

as i live in Hull i felt the earthquake, i was awoken by a sound like thunder from underground.

my bed was shaking and the cupboard doors banging, i shot up disorientated, me and my dad ran outside becouse it sounded like the roof was about to fall in on itself. it lasted for about 10 seconds, even my cats were shaken by this!

#492876

Yeah, just saw this on the local news feed channel. How large was the tremor in terms of damage? Are we talkin millions or is it too early to tell just yet?

#492878

I felt this when I was in bed on my laptop, it was really weird. I live in South-West London and the whole house was shaking. Nothing damaged or anything but my bed was swaying, a few things fell off the shelves etc. Never felt anything like it before.

#492897

i was fast asleep; i don't believe it really happened

#492917

Yeah! Me too! I didn't feel it in St. Louis, so it never happened!

I miss earthquakes . Ahh, the good ole days of living in So. Cal. An earthquake every week. Much better than the damned tornados. A tornado could never top the 7.4 Landers earthquake of '92.

#492920

very very scary

#492955

£10 million is the esitmated cost, I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T NOTICE IT!!!!

#492965

Yeah! Me too! I didn't feel it in St. Louis, so it never happened!

I miss earthquakes . Ahh, the good ole days of living in So. Cal. An earthquake every week. Much better than the damned tornados. A tornado could never top the 7.4 Landers earthquake of '92.

LOL. im in socal right now. we havent gotten earthquakes in pretty much years now

#493005

LOL. im in socal right now. we havent gotten earthquakes in pretty much years now

We had a 4.9 a few months back, was just a quick jolt.

#493011

it was felt up to edinburgh, across to aberystwyth, down to London and even across to the netherlands!

#493063

Damn I wish I was still in the midlands

10M for a few shaking pots and pans? It had to have been more for damage to have taken place. Maybe it was just all the finest china

#493087

there was a what!

i was asleep when this happened!

#493107

yeah DM3rd, you missed it! Your mom farted and caused millions in damage!

I kid

#493109

We had a 4.9 a few months back, was just a quick jolt.

well im talking about here where i am, haven't felt one in pretty much years (although i know there was one like 2 years ago in june but i was on vacation). there have been some around the area but just not where i live

#493113

Yeah! Me too! I didn't feel it in St. Louis, so it never happened!

I miss earthquakes . Ahh, the good ole days of living in So. Cal. An earthquake every week. Much better than the damned tornados. A tornado could never top the 7.4 Landers earthquake of '92.

Lol, I live in So Cal... there's an earthquake (that we feel) about once every 6 months...

#493130