Whilst doing research for the local history society you often come across some interesting but pretty usless information, but with this mornings earthmoving experience the usless info then becomes quite exciting!

As many read and hear with surprised belief, it comes as no shock to those with knowledge of the past that earthquakes were not that uncommon in the UK.

Earthquakes have been part of UK history for centuries, in November 1764, movement was felt at Oxford and surrounding areas.

In Stourminister on the 6th of February between 11 & 12pm the ground was reported to have been moving and ironically at 1am, in 1843 reports from all over Lancashire, including Darwen were of a great earthquake felt.

A News report from Douglas Isle of Man in March, 1843 states "A slight shock of an earthquake was felt in this town and its vicinity yesterday morning, about one o'clock, a.m. The shock lasted a few seconds, and, in some cases, produced considerable alarm to the inhabitants, who were awoke by the oscillation felt in their houses. The shock was preceded by a rumbling noise, and followed by a sensible vibration from east to west. At the time of the shock the wind became instantly calm, but a considerable motion was observed in the sea after it had subsided, and the waves dashed violently against the adjacent shore. Aftei the lapse of a few minutes, the wind again rose to a stiff breeze. From all we can hear, the earthquake appears to have been felt throughout the Island, and particularly at Castletown, where the inhabitants of the College were fearfully alarmed by the shaking of the buildings. We are happy to say that no worse results happened than alarm to the timid, and general surprise to those who were disturbed in their midnight slumbers by its occurrence.

In Wales they have had many recorded movements over the years from 1727, 1775, 1832, 1868 and 1906 with the last one being in July 1884.

There have been many incidents across the UK where the description of movements, shaking and upheavals of ground are of earthquakes.

One of the strongest tremors in more recent years was the 1976 Widnes quake measuring 4.5 on the Richter Scale, this mornings earthquake at Market Rasen was 5.2 RS(ML), BGS is reported to have recorded an earthquake aftershock with a magnitude of 1.8 at about 4am.

The main earthquake, which happened just before 1am, is said to have been the biggest recorded earth tremor since the one felt in north Wales back in 1984, with a magnitude of 5.4.

The question is are we going to have more aftershocks?