An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 has struck off the Scarborough coast, according to the British Geological Survey.

It was centred 93 miles east of the town at a depth of 11 miles and hit at around 6.50pm.

According to local media, there were no reports of the quake being felt on land.

Social media users were not too worried, with some posting mocked-up photos of overturned wheelie bins and broken garden gnomes.

Despite 3.8 being small compared to earthquakes in other countries, magnitude 4 earthquakes happen on average only every two years in Britain.


Image: The earthquake was centred east of the town, out to sea

Other recent earthquakes in the UK include a magnitude 0.9 tremor in Kirkbride, Cumbria, on Monday and 0.8 in Blakedown, Worcestershire, on Sunday.

The UK has between 20 and 30 earthquakes strong enough to be felt by people each year, with a few hundred smaller ones strong enough to be picked up by sensitive instruments.

The BGS website says earthquakes on the east coast of the UK are relatively rare, although the North Sea is "more active than the mainland".