Market town is hit by earthquake (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Market town is hit by earthquake

9:03pm Friday 1st June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

An earthquake has hit the market town of Ludlow, the British Geological Survey said.

The quake measured 2.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale.

A statement on the British Geological Survey's website said the earthquake in the town, which is close to the Welsh border, in Shropshire, happened at 12.16pm, with a depth of 14km (8.75 miles).

There have not been any reports of injuries or major disturbances. Earthquakes with a magnitude of around 2.0 are usually recorded but not felt by people.

According to the BGS, an earthquake measuring 2.0 on the Richter Scale would be equivalent to a large quarry or mine blast.

The two devastating earthquakes that struck northern Italy earlier this month were more than twice the size of that in Ludlow.

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0, hit near the city of Modena on May 20. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the same area on May 29, killing more than 15 people and bringing down buildings.

West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service both said they had not received any calls relating to the earthquake. Many people living in the area said they did not experience anything and were only aware of the quake from media reports and social media.

A similar earthquake shook homes in Blackpool last April. In July, an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 struck in the middle of the English Channel - the largest in the area for almost 300 years.

It caused buildings to shake but no injuries were reported. In February 2008, a major tremor - which measured 5.2 on the Richter scale and centred on Lincolnshire - shook much of the country, causing damage to buildings and injuring one man.