An earthquake with a 4.4 magnitude has been felt and affected parts of Wales and England, people from Cornwall to Blackpool reporting “violent shaking”.
Shaking has been reported across south Wales, the south-west of England and the Midlands, but there have been no reports of serious damage or injuries.
The British Geological Survey said the epicentre was approximately 20km north-north-east of Swansea and at a depth of 7.4km.
It said the tremor was 4.4 magnitude and originated 20km north of Swansea, in Wales, just after 2.30pm on Saturday.
Events of this magnitude only happen in the UK every 2-3 years, it added.
Twitter users described their surprise as the aftershock was felt over a hundred miles away.
This is the biggest event in the area since the 5.2 magnitude earthquake in 1906. pic.twitter.com/zq9JEIttQI
— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) February 17, 2018
The UK is not generally associated with earthquakes, however, between 20 to 30 earthquakes are felt by people each year, and a few hundred smaller ones are recorded by sensitive instruments.
Most of these are very small and cause no damage. The largest known British earthquake occurred near the Dogger Bank in 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1.
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