An earthquake struck the middle of the English Channel, registering 3.9 on the Richter Scale, making it the biggest quake in the area for 300 years.
The earthquake struck in the English Cannel at 7.59am at a depth of 10km. Its epicentre was around 85km south-east of Portsmouth, Hampshire, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).
West Sussex residents reported buildings shaking for a few seconds but no injuries or damage are thought to have been caused. Hampshire Police, Sussex Police, Solent Coastguard, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said they had not been called to incidents related to it.
David Kerridge, from the BGS, said: "This is the largest earthquake in this area since a magnitude 4.5 event in 1734. Historically, there have been two other significant events nearby – a magnitude 5.0 earthquake in 1878 and a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in 1750.
"In the UK, we experience a earthquake of this magnitude approximately every two years."
Residents who felt the tremors seemed unsure whether there had in fact been an earthquake.
One West Sussex local said: "The office wobbled slightly, the building shook, monitors on the table rattled and the roof creaked a bit. It lasted about two to three seconds. There was no damage as far as we can see.
"It felt as if a big lorry had gone by in a hurry, except we don't have lorries go through here."
A Worthing resident tweeted: “I think there was just an earthquake in Worthing. I haven't had any coffee yet, so it could just be my brain making things up (again)!”
Did you or anyone you know feel today’s English Channel earthquake?
