PEOPLE were woken in their beds by the biggest earthquake to hit Notts since 2008.
Hundreds of people reported feeling the quake, which happened at about 5am yesterday.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the quake was 2.9 on the Richter scale with an epicentre near Loughborough.
It is the biggest recorded in the region since February 2008, when a quake with its epicentre in Lincolnshire measured 5.2 on the Richter scale.
David Galloway, a seismologist at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, said: "It was certainly one of the biggest in recent years.
"Overall we record more than 150 earthquakes every year in the UK – most go unnoticed by people.
"We get a few in this region, but there has been no increase in the amount. We don't expect any reports of any damage."
Mr Galloway also said that the nature of the tremor meant it was unlikely to be related to mining subsidence.
He said: "This was at a depth of 13km. Usually mining earthquakes are shallow, so this is a natural earthquake."
The news comes after two tremors were felt earlier in the week in Ollerton, Notts
A tremor of magnitude 1.4 on the Richter scale was first felt at about 4am on Saturday, January 12.
A second quake of 1.8 magnitude was then recorded in the town on Monday, January 14 at 10.09am.
Speaking about yesterday's quake, Alex Jeffery, of Heather Croft, Compton Acres, said: "I couldn't believe it. I was actually awake at the time and noticed slight vibrations.
"It was something that I have never felt before and I really didn't know what to make of it until I saw the news this morning. I just presumed it was a big lorry coming down the road, or something like that."
The 24-year-old added: "It just really isn't something you expect to happen in this country."
Peter Turner, 72, of Cator Lane, Chilwell, said: "I felt it at about 5.20am.
"I thought it was snow falling off the roof. I woke up just beforehand and heard a slight rumbling.
"My wife heard it too – she thought it was a tremor straight away."
The BGS has 100 recording instruments around the country, which they use to work out the epicentre, recording ground motion.
Susan Fuller, of Bramcote, was woken by the rumbling.
She said: "I woke up suddenly and heard the rumbling and slight vibration – I then looked at the time and it was 5.22am. My first thought was, 'what's that?' I then suspected it was an earth tremor."
Wendy Sheldon, of Havenwood Rise, Clifton, said: "I keep my mobile phone beside my bed on my dressing room table but this morning it was on the floor.
"The lid of my wicker basket was on the floor too."
