Residents in Carnforth reported a ‘loud explosion’ after an earthquske hit Lancashire with tremors felt by people across the Fylde coast, Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Arnside and Silverdale.

The tremor measured around magnitude 3.3–3.4 and occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 3km, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).

The quake was centred off the coast near Silverdale.

The levels of quake intensity across the district, with orange marking the strongest, followede by yellow.

placeholder image — The levels of quake intensity across the district, with orange marking the strongest, followede by yellow.

There were no reports of any injuries or structural damage.

"At 11.23pm on Wednesday night (3rd December), we received reports of a loud explosion in the Carnforth area," said Lancaster police.

"There has been a minor earthquake in the area, near to the Lancashire and Cumbria border, measuring 3.3 magnitude.

"There have been no reports of anyone injured or damage caused but we have officers in the area, together with colleagues from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service.

A seismogram shows the velocity of the tremors that hit the district.

"If you know of any property that has been damaged or potentially, please contact 101 – quoting log 1613 of 3rd December."

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We’re aware that many residents felt or heard a loud bang earlier this evening in the Carnforth area.

"Our crews, along with colleagues from police and NWAS (North West Ambulance Service), have been supporting the response after a minor earthquake was recorded near the Lancashire-Cumbria border."

Numerous people took to social media to describe the events, with some saying their “house shook” or it had woken them up.

Others thought there had been an explosion or crash nearby.

The UK typically experiences 200-300 earthquakes annually, though only 20-30 are strong enough to be felt by people.

Most are too faint to notice and cause no damage.

BGS told Sky News the earth was felt moving "across the South Lakes and Lancashire, mainly within 20 kilometres of the epicentre, including Lancashire, Kendal and Ulverston".

Residents told the BGS it “felt like an underground explosion” and was “so powerful it shook the whole house”.

The Volcano Discovery website, which also collects information on earthquakes, received more than 1,100 reports from people who were in the area at the time.

Most reports detailed “light” or “weak” shaking.

Volcano Discovery reported that the strike is the second earthquake to hit Great Britain in the last 24 hours.