10:51am UK, Tuesday January 04, 2011
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake has hit northern England, the second tremor in the area in two weeks.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed an earthquake had occurred and that it was centred around six miles northwest of Ripon.
Residents living near the epicentre described hearing crockery rattling and doors shaking on their hinges for several seconds.
BGS seismology project leader Dr Brian Baptie told Sky News: "We believe the earthquake was centred in North Yorkshire, near Ripon, round about the Yorkshire Dales region."
Analysis of measuring station data indicated the earthquake occurred at 9.03pm at a depth of 3.8 miles.
"We get an earthquake of this size about once a year in the UK," Dr Baptie said.
