An earthquake that shook homes across the South West did affect Devon, it has been confirmed.

The 3.2-magnitude earthquake affected around 200,000 homes in Somerset at around 10.49pm on Thursday.

The British Geological Society has received reports  tremors have been felt in many towns and villages , with some claiming whole houses were 'rattled'.

The epicentre of the quake has been recorded at Culmhead, near Taunton, but it was felt in several areas of Devon.

This  interactive map by USGS  says the 3.4 magnitude earthquake was recorded precisely 7km south of Taunton at around 10.49pm last night (Thursday, December 5), Somerset Live reports.

Where the earthquake was felt in Devon:

  • Uffculme
  • Honiton
  • Axminster
  • Tiverton

The British Geological Survey said on Twitter last night: "We are receiving some reports of seismic activity in the Somerset area.

British Geological Survey (BGS) seismologist Davie Galloway views a seismogram of an earlier earthquake as recorded on the BGS seismograph network.

"We are looking into this and will post an update shortly. 

"BGS has received several reports of the event being felt in several towns and villages in Somerset.

"For those of you who felt Thursday evening's earthquake in Bridgwater, please fill out our  'felt report' questionnaire ."

Twitter users reported feeling the quake: “Our whole house just shook and things fell off the tops,” said one.

Others described a "big rumble", a "boom", and said their "whole house rattled".

Reports submitted to the BGS said houses had rattled and one person “physically felt my bed shake”.

Last month, a earthquake was felt off the Cornish coast.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) reported that the earthquake occurred in the sea off Portreath.

It happened at 00.53am on October 24.

The tremor registered as magnitude 0.9, which can be felt by a seismograph but usually not by people.

The BGS reports   that "the Navy (Southern) Diving Group advised that they were not working in the region therefore were not detonating any ordnance at this time".

The earthquake appeared in their list of 'earthquakes around the British Isles in the last 50 days'.

What causes an earthquake?

Movements within the Earth's crust cause stress to build up at points of weakness.

When the stress exceeds the strength of the rock, the rock fractures and the stored energy is suddenly released like a spring.

Intense vibrations or seismic waves spread out from the initial point of rupture, the focus, like ripples on a pond. These waves are what makes the ground shake and can travel large distances in all directions.

Near the epicentre, the waves can be very large, making them extremely destructive if there is enough energy released.