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THE earthquake that shook South Lakes and north Lancashire at 11.22 this morning is the biggest in Cumbria for 30 years.

Environmental scientist Dr Hugh Tuffen, of Lancaster University, said the magnitude 3.7 earthquake which caused buildings to shake throughout the area was not as bad as the one experienced in Carlisle on Boxing Day 1979.

Then chimneys toppled into the streets or fell through roofs and people ran out of their homes in panic.

In contrast, this morning's earthquake below Ulverston caused no visible damage to buildings, although several people rang The Westmorland Gazette to say they heard 'explosions'.

Dr Tuffen said: "The earthquake this morning is the biggest in the North West since Boxing Day 1979 but it was not quite large enough to cause any significant damage.

"We have between 200 and 300 earthquakes a year in the UK and the last tremors felt in this area were from a magnitude five event which occurred in Lincolnshire.

"The last earthquake to actually occur in Cumbria was a magnitude three event recorded in Ambleside in 1988."