BROMYARD was at the centre of a minor earthquake last night.

A minor tremor, measuring 3.6 on the Richter Scale, saw police receiving reports of vibrations across the county but none of major damage.

A statement released by the British Geological Survey (BGS) said the earthquake’s “locality” was Bromyard and it took place at around 6.10pm.

David Galloway, a seismologist at the BGS, said: "People have described it as a lorry crashing in to the side of their house and on analysis of our instruments there has been an earthquake of 3.6 on the Richter Scale.

"We record about 200 earthquakes a year but most go unnoticed by the general public.

“One or two a month are felt and this was quite widely felt. We have had no reports of any injuries and nor would we expect to. The only reports we are getting is maybe crockery has fallen but there is no significant damage.”

But residents certainly felt the quake.

George Webb, who lives in Bredenbury and has long taken an interest in geological matters, said: “When they said it was 3.6 I jumped out of my chair because it is half way to disaster. It’s a heavy one for the UK.”

“It sounded like a passing lorry and two things rubbing together.”

Mr Webb said it was not beyond the realms of possibility that another quake could follow.

“Usually with these shocks it’s the second one that is worse. It can be up to three days later when the big one comes,” he said.

Earthquakes are caused by plate movement which creates stress in rocks.