An average of 200 earthquakes are detected in the UK every year by the British Geological Survey through a series of data recording stations spread across the country.

They monitor both natural and man-made disturbances and each new quake is used to keep track of the seismic hazards which are faced in Britain.

The information gathered by the BGS is used by industry for engineering projects and for academic research.

The BGS is the world’s longest-established geographical survey and has an 800-strong staff, of whom no fewer than 500 are scientists.

The BSG says on its website that the risk from UK quakes is not considerable and that Mainland quakes of the magnitude of that which shook Lincolnshire early today occur only twice a year on average.

However, smaller tremors, of between one and 1.9 on the Richter scale, happen up to 140 times a year.

The earliest quake British quake recorded by the BSG was on April 6, 1680. It measured 6.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre in the Straits of Dover.

It killed two people in London.

Earthquake facts

— British earthquakes have killed 11 people since 1580. Six were killed by falling stones, two fell from upper floors, two died of shock and one committed suicide

— The largest earthquake recorded in Britain had a magnitude of 6.1 and struck offshore in the North Sea on June 7, 1931, about 75 miles northeast of Great Yarmouth

— Britain’s largest onshore tremor struck in Lleyn, North Wales, on July 19, 1984, with a magnitude of 5.4. It was felt over an area of about 240,000 sq km

— The last big British earthquake was in 1990, when a 5.1 tremor hit Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire

— The most damaging quake to date was the magnitude 4.6 Colchester earthquake of 1884. It shattered walls and brought down a church spire

— Homes in Folkestone, Kent, were damaged on April 28 this year when a magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck a few miles away in the English Channel. One woman was taken to hospital with a neck injury

— A magnitude 5 earthquake occurs on average every ten years. A magnitude 4 earthquake occurs on average every two to three years

— There are 200 minor tremors in Britain every year, but 90 per cent go undetected by the public

— Faults in the Earth’s crust were not identified as the source of quakes until 1855

— Moonquakes (“earthquakes” on the moon) do occur, but they happen less frequently and have smaller magnitudes than earthquakes on the Earth

Source: Times archive, United States Geological Survey

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