AN EARTHQUAKE measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale shook Lancashire.

Buildings in the county swayed for a couple of seconds at 11.22am.

But many across the region said that they did not feel a thing despite the tremor, which had its epicentre close to Ulverston, south Cumbria.

In fact, firefighters reported just one call to the service after the quake because of damage to buildings in Morecambe.

Student Jason Walker knew something strange was happening when his chair began moving and the pens in his desk tidy began shaking.

Jason, who felt the earth move in Roe Lee, Blackburn, said: “I was in the study doing some college jobs" target="_blank">work at my desk when my swivel chair started moving and the pens in their holder shook.

“I had a feeling it was an earthquake because I’d felt the earthquake last year and it was the same.

“I was a bit worried I might have been mistaken though.

“But people were out in the street looking about to see what was going on.”

However, elsewhere in the county people were perplexed about the earthquake, which lasted just a few seconds.

Doug Fisher, 47, of Chamber Street, Water, Rossendale said: “I had no idea there had been an earthquake before you told me.

“I never felt a thing. Not even the dog noticed it.”

BGS seismologist Dr Aoife O’Mongain said: “An earthquake of this magnitude is unlikely to cause any substantial damage but we know a number of people have felt the tremor this morning.

”I would encourage them to visit our website and let us know about their experiences which will help with our data.”

The last major earthquake to hit Lancashire was in February 2008.

It measured 5.2 on the Richter scale, though its epicentre was further away in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.

The largest seismic event in Lancashire was in Lancaster in 1835 with a magnitude of 4.4 which only caused minor damage.

Did you feel the earth move? Add your comments below.