Telegraph

Earthquakes have hit Manchester, causing damage to buildings and disrupting the lives of residents.

The fire brigade reported damage to homes, including fallen chimney pots and slight damage to stores in the city centre.

Dozens of workers were evacuated after fire alarms were set off by the tremors - the first of which, at breakfast time, measured 3.2 on the Richter scale.

Greater Manchester fire brigade said it received just five or six calls about the first earthquake.

But at 12.42pm the area was hit by an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale - and seconds later it was followed by another measuring 3.4.

The epicentre of the earthquakes was in Beswick, one mile east of Manchester city centre.

The fire brigade received 60 calls between 12.45pm and 1.10pm - 41 concerning the tremors.

A spokeswoman said: "Nine of these were concerning structural damage. Eight calls were about fire alarms going off.

"Many of the calls were from people in tall buildings asking for advice. We have received no reports of any injuries."

The British Geological Survey said the earthquakes were quite big for the UK, but only minor damage would be caused.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002