THE earth moved for people all over Swindon in the early hours of Wednesday.

An earth tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, hit at 1am.

Its epicentre was near Market Rasen, in Lincolnshire, but the effects of the quake were felt throughout the country.

In Swindon there was widespread confusion as to the cause of rattling window panes, with suspicions ranging from ghosts, to burglars and even mice.

Cara Barrett and Matthew Buy, from the Roaring Donkey pub, in Albert Street, knew immediately that it was an earthquake, but others were less certain.

"We shouted out of the window to our friend who was outside smoking a cigarette and asked him if he'd felt the earthquake," Cara said.

"He said he thought it was just the garage door closing, so we felt a bit stupid."

Sarah Leighfield, from Victoria Road, was watching television in her third-floor flat at the time.

She said: "The first thing I noticed was the two vases on my window sill ringing because they were vibrating against each other.

"At first I thought it was a really big lorry going down the hill but then it went on and on - it must have been a good 30 or 40 seconds."

Carla Wilkins, from Haydon End, was in bed when she felt a tremor.

She said: "The windows and the doors were shaking - at first I thought I was still dreaming.

"When my boyfriend came in I asked him if he'd felt anything and he said the TV had been vibrating and everything."

Karl Obloj, 45, of Haydon End said: "I thought I was being possessed. The whole house shook."

Sheila Alexander, of Cricklade, said: "I thought it was a mouse.

"I heard this rattling noise, where an electrical cable was vibrating behind the mirror. My husband and I woke up when we heard it.

"We live in an old cottage so I thought oh no, we've got mice.' I had a look around but couldn't see anything.

"Then, when I woke up, they were talking about the earthquake on the news and I knew it was at the same time."

Online reader, Swindon AOK, said: "I live in the town centre and was listening to music on headphones at the time.

"I suddenly saw the blinds on my patio doors move and then it seemed as if someone was trying to push the door in - the whole wall was shaking and I felt very disoriented.

"I said to my partner in the bedroom I think someone's just tried to break in.' "I was quite freaked out and it was only this morning when I heard on the radio about the earthquake that it all made sense."

Anthony De Souza, of Broad Street, is originally from Goa but experienced his first earthquake in Swindon.

Anthony said: "My wife and I both woke up because the house was shaking.

"When I said I thought it could be an earthquake my wife just laughed and said don't be silly, earthquakes don't happen in England'."