IT MAY not have made tiles fall from roofs or pavements buckle, but an earthquake was recorded off the coast of Dorset last weekend.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) says the quake struck at sea seven kilometres east-south-east of Swanage at 9.51am on Sunday, May 19. It measured a three on the Richter scale, which classifies it as 'minor'.

Although earthquakes are, of course, rare in the UK, they're certainly not unheard of.

Homes in Crawley have shaken a number of times this year due a series of tremors.

An area covering the Surrey-Sussex border has also experienced a number of quakes. The epicentres are in the villages of Newdigate and Charlwood, near Gatwick.