RESIDENTS have reacted to an earthquake which struck just outside of Winchester last night.
It rocked homes and sparked a hectic night for emergency services.
The shock tremor measured 2.9 on the Richter scale and was felt across much of Hampshire.
The epicentre was 3km below Headbourne Worthy and residents in the surrounding villages said there was a bang like an explosion.
Tom Nalbat, 43, owner of Springvale Stores, in Fraser Road, Kings Worthy, said: "Everything was rattling.
I was just lying on the sofa and I heard this rattling noise and I thought it was some sort of explosion.
"Then I came outside to check, then I thought it must have been an earthquake because I felt something similar when I was back in India 20 years ago."
Thelma Paige, 80, retired, of Fraser Road, Kings Worthy, said: "I thought someone was playing about outside because I could hear the door rattling.
"The dog got up and started barking for around three or four seconds. I didn't even think it could have been an earthquake. My son in Littleton felt it too."
Sophie White, 25, retail worker, of Wesley Road, said: "I was stood in the bathroom and suddenly there was a big bang - I just thought it was my son jumping on the bed or pictures falling off the wall. It wasn't until I looked on Facebook that I realised that it was a mini earthquake.
"It happened quickly but it was weird because it was not expected."
Martin Bond, 48, unemployed, of Harwood Place, Kings Worthy, said: "It felt like the house was coming down or something had hit the house. I got up and looked around to check if someone was there. It was a bit weird."
(Below) Ellie Jones, 18, assistant manager of the Good Life Centre in Headbourne Worthy, talks about what happened.
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