An earthquake has shaken parts of Cornwall, with people saying it felt like an explosion or avalanche.

Seismologists at the British Geological Survey recorded the 2.7 magnitude quake at 00:50 GMT.

Its epicentre was in the Mounts Bay area, near Penzance in west Cornwall, with people woken up by a loud bang from St Just in the west of the county to Redruth about 20 miles (32km) north-east from the point of origin.

Experts said the tremor was within what was expected for the area and was among hundreds in the UK every year.

Linda Dwan, from Mousehole in west Cornwall, said: "There was a rumbling, like thunder and the house shook for about two or three seconds.

"It felt like an explosion or an avalanche.

"My glass ornaments were shaking in the window."

Dr David Hawthorn, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, said: "We have 2-300 quakes a year, but about 30 are felt and this was at the lower end of those quakes.

"This was quite small by global standards.

"In the UK, we have a phenomenally complicated geology and that's particularly true in Cornwall.

"Sooner or later that stress weakens and we get an earthquake."

He appealed for anyone affected to get in touch.

"We are still getting data in, so please give us a description because we want to know how much it shakes the ground in any given location," he said.

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