A FORMER night club entertainment manager has spoken of panic as a huge earthquake hit the Turkish resort where he was staying.

Kristian Stevens, 48 from Nelson said he felt the building he was in ‘shake like a jelly’.

He was staying with a friend in the coastal town of Mavişehir about 150km from Bodrum struck by the 6.7-magnitude quake early yesterday morning.

The massive earth tremor also hit the Greek island of Kos killing at least two people, one man from Sweden and Turkey, and injuring 115, 12 seriously.

More than 350 were injured in Turkey.

Mr Stevens, the former entertainment manager at Zebras Night Club in Colne, said: “I was just settling down to sleep at 1.30am when a gentle shake started almost like a vibrating bed, which then grew in intensity and the whole building began to shake.

“Bottles on the side in the bedroom toppled off and I was swayed around on the bed. It was a very surreal experience.

“Friends living in nearby town of Didim Turkey, stated it was worst quake for a decade, causing residents to run out onto the streets, many only in underwear.

“Some were seen to be carrying pillows and blankets, not feeling safe going back to their homes.

“There were British families with children panicking as the water in pools was sloshing over the sides causing minor damage to the surrounding areas during one of the aftershocks causing more alarm from already concerned people.”

Mr Stevens, who was brought up in Earby and attended Fisher More RC High School in Colne, is currently not working for health reasons and was staying with an expatriate friend in her apartment to aid his recovery..

He said: “It was the first time I ever experienced an earthquake, and I was not sure what to expect.

“The most worrying time was during the main quake as it was quite strong and I really was not sure what to do.

“Images of recent tragedies flashed through my mind as it continued to shake the building but it was a great relief when it finally subsided.

“It was a very unnerving experience.

“ Lots of frightened holidaymakers were running out of apartments along with permanent residents both Turkish and English.

“Buildings shook violently for some time, with several apartments having glasses and plates shaken loose and smashing on the marble floors.

“There has been damage to some properties in the surrounding areas with pipes bursting and walls cracking but thankfully the newer building regulations on this complex mean we were more protected.”

“Lots of frightened holiday makers running out of apartments along with permanent residents both Turkish and English.

“Buildings shook violently for some time, with several apartments having glasses and plates shaken loose and smashing on the marble floors.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are speaking to the Turkish and Greek authorities following an earthquake off the coast of Bodrum and near the island of Kos.

“Any British people in the areas affected should follow the instructions of local authorities.”