Shropshire earthquake: 3.8 magnitude quake hits UK near Shrewsbury

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck Shropshire on Monday afternoon, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said.

The BGS said the quake - the third to hit the UK in the last 24 hours - happened at around 3.36pm at a depth of 8km.

Earthquakes measuring 3.8 magnitude or more are only seen in the UK "roughly every two years", the organisation said.

"BGS has received numerous reports that this event has been felt by residents in Shropshire and surrounding counties," they said in a statement.

"An earthquake of this size can result in strong shaking within about 10km of the epicentre but damage is unlikely."

"The earthquake may have been felt at distances as far as 100km away," the BGS added.

The epicentre of the quake is believed to be about five miles east of the town of Wem in Shropshire, just under 11 miles from Shrewsbury.

People declared "my chair wobbled", "house felt like it moved from left to right", "noticeable shaking coming through the floor", "noticed an odd trembling through my office chair, faint but persisted for about three seconds" and "all the windows rattled," according to the BGS website.

Ruth Reed, who works as an architect in Upton Magna in Shropshire, said: "Just after half past three, there was a jolt and the offices shook.

"We thought a lorry had hit the building and looked out both sides.

"People came out of the other offices to see what was happening."

Claire Osborn, from Shropshire, said on Twitter that she felt the earthquake tremor while gardening.

Meanwhile Sam Roberts, in Wem, said: "I definitely felt it… quite an [un]usual experience!!"

West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had not yet been called to any reports of incidents related to the quake.

Earlier on Monday, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland just before 8am, while another with a magnitude of 2.3 struck in Sale, Greater Manchester, at 8.40pm on Sunday, according to the BGS.