Earthquake in Shetland: Islanders feel the earth move

SEISMOLOGISTS were today investigating reports of a minor earthquake on Shetland.

The British Geological Survey said "seismic activity" had been recorded on the island around 5.30 this morning.

Northern Constabulary said it had received calls from residents reporting a bang and their houses shaking.

Dr Aoife O' Mongain of the British Geological Survey said: "There is seismic activity on our chart at our Lerwick station which we are analysing.

"This activity has also appeared on our chart in Plockton in the Western Isles, but has not travelled as far as Edinburgh.

"It is probably a minor earthquake."

She added that it was too early to say what any record of activity had measured on the Richter Scale.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "We received a number of reports around 5.35am from residents in the Tingwall and Mossbank areas of Shetland.

"They reported hearing a bang and their houses shaking. We have no reports of any damage or injury."

Shetland Coastguard watch manager David Phillips said: "I was sitting at work early this morning when the building shook momentarily.

"We then got phone calls from members of the public who were concerned because they had heard banging and shaking.

"We have had no reports of any aircraft emergency or anything unusual happening. We are presuming it was an earthquake."