PEOPLE from across East Lancashire have told the Lancashire Telegraph how their homes shook during the tremor this morning.

Joyce Gallagher, 64, of Swan Farm Close, Lower Darwen, said: "I was terrified to be honest.

"The noise was really, really terrifying. It was so deep and rumbling, I knew that it wasn't a simple thunder storm.

"It felt like the house was going to fall down around me.

"All my cupboard doors flew open and the whole house shook, it was unreal.

"I can't believe it. It was quite an experience."

Lesley Swan, 54, of Kipling Place, Great Harwood, said: "I was sat on the bed talking to my wife Rita when we felt this huge shudder.

"If the bed had have been on castors it would have slid right across the room.

"We both looked at one another and said 'what on earth was that'.

"I've felt an earthquake before but nothing on that scale."

David Culshaw, of Bath Street, Nelson, said: "It was really bad.

"I was fast asleep and woke up and the room was shaking.

"It knocked me out of bed. There was a loud bang and alarms were going off.

"I have an African Grey parrot and she was going mad flapping around."

Paul Dunleary, 32, of Great Harwood said: "At first I thought that a car had hit the house but I looked outside and couldn't see a problem.

"When I woke up again in the morning I thought I must have dreamt it. I don't remember ever experiencing anything like it before."

Janet Lowry, 47, Queen's Park, Blackburn, said: "The earthquake woke me up but at first I just thought it was my daughter jumping on the bed.

"It didn't even enter my mind that it could be an earthquake."

George Hobkirk, 68, Roe Lee, Blackburn, said: "I have been having problems with my guttering and as the earthquake started I thought it was just high winds blowing off my gutters.

"I soon realised it was an earthquake and it's the first time I've ever been involved in one."

Catherine Haworth, 17, from Haslingden, said: "I only felt it a little bit.

"I was still awake and I was getting loads of phone calls.

"I don't think it was as bad in Rossendale as it was elsewhere but it was really weird.

Leontia Jopson, 17, from Haslingden, said: "It woke me up and I was really surprised.

"You just don't think there will be an earthquake."

Rebecca Stewart-Quigley, 25, who works in Blackburn town centre, said: "It didn't wake me up and I can't believe what's been on the news and what everyone is saying.

"I've always been a heavy sleeper though."

Sylvia Holgate, 71, of Fulledge, Burnley, said: "It certainly didn't wake me up - but my daughter rang me after it because she lives on her own and was a bit frightened.

"I am a light sleeper and usually hear anything like this."

Her sister Marion McGree, originally from Burnley but now living in Melbourne, Australia, is used to extreme weather conditions.

She said: "I just thought it was a strong wind because we got them quite a bit back home.

"The windows rattle and the doors rattled and then it went quiet."

Mark Ellis, 36, and his son Cory, aged four, from the Briercliffe Road area of Burnley, remained oblivious.

Mark said: "I didn't feel it myself but I heard all about it this morning.

"I just slept right through and didn't hear a thing."

Jessica Herrett, 22, from Ightenhill, said: "It was about one am when I woke up and I thought it was my partner who was shaking because he sometimes taps his legs.

"But he woke up and the windows started rattling so I thought it was strange.

"My dad thought it was a ghost!"

Sue Dean, 51, of Cliviger, near Burnley, said: "It woke me up when the wardrobe started shaking but it didn't stir my husband."

Robert Ingham, 64, from Burnley, added: "I've not heard a thing about it until just now.

"But we get earthquakes all the time - little ones - and we don't know anything about it.

"But I didn't feel anything last night."

Pub landlord Tim Pye said he was getting ready to lock up and go to bed when he felt the building shake.

The Royal Oak landlord in Pleckgate, Blackburn, said: "I was sat down having a coffee when the whole building started shaking.

"It only lasted between five and 10 seconds but it was actually quite frightening.

"It was like a heavy wagon had rumbled past.

"The building is about 300 years old. We have a resident ghost called George who often sits in the corner and things start swinging of their own accord.

"But I knew it wasn't the ghost this time and thought it must have been a tremor."

Dilawar Hussain, owner of the Nile takeaway in Preston New Road, Blackburn, said: "The lads were getting ready to close the takeaway when the earthquake struck.

"I'm usually working but I was at home in bed and it woke me up.

"It was really bad, I wondered what on earth was going on.

"I'm just glad to hear nobody was injured."