Earthquake hits northern England

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A small earthquake has hit northern England, scientists have confirmed.

The US Geological Survey said the 3.7-magnitude quake struck near Leeds just after 2100 GMT on Monday.

People in Bingley and Skipton, north-west of Leeds, have reported feeling tremors, which were also experienced in Cumbria and West Yorkshire.

The British Geological Survey said it was investigating the quake which is the second to hit the north of England in the past month.

British Geological Survey spokeswoman Dr Aoife O’Mongain said the epicentre of the quake was 10km west of Ripon at a depth of 6km.

A map

“It would have only lasted for a couple of seconds. And at that strength it is not likely that it would have caused any damage,” she said.

“People living in the vicinity may have felt their windows rattling as if a lorry was going past.”

David Jones, who lives just outside Skipton, was one of those who felt the quake.

He told BBC News: “I was downstairs and a heavy cast iron wood stove we’ve got rattled quite loudly for about five seconds. My wife upstairs said wardrobe doors were also rattling.

“I’ve spoken to friends who’ve reported front doors rattling and things like that.

“I have felt a couple of earthquakes in other parts of the world from time to time so I was fairly certain what it was as soon as I felt it.”

Damian Boddy contacted the BBC to say he felt the earthquake in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.

He said: “The house shook as if a door slammed – thought it was burglars until we checked online news.”

Emma-Jane Whelan, from Nunburnholme in the East Riding of Yorkshire, said: “I thought I had imagined it but I felt the tremor this evening. It made me jump.

“I turned off the TV and looked all round the house for what had caused the big ‘crump’ sound.”

Insp Chris Wright of Cumbria Police said the force received two calls from the Kendal area reporting tremors.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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