Ref. 73083-7 Pauline Neil, who was phoned by her husband Graham from Japan during the earthquake. INSET: Graham BUSINESSMAN Graham Neil phoned home to Swindon from the 21st floor of a swaying Japanese hotel during an earthquake.

Senior IT executive Graham, 48, telephoned wife Pauline, 49, to tell her not to worry as the quake didn't seem too serious.

But then Pauline switched on the TV news and learned that at least 20 people had been killed.

Graham arrived in Tokyo on business last Wednesday and plans to return home at the weekend.

The epicentre of the quake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, was about 150 miles to the north, in the rural Niigata area.

Pauline said: "I got a telephone call from Graham at about 10.30am on Saturday that was about 6.30pm in Japan.

"He was on the 21st floor and he just said the hotel was swaying.

"He didn't think it was that bad but I later saw the news and realised how serious it was.

"I tried to call him back to tell him how strong the earthquake had been but the telephone connection was down.

"I just got a recording of a Japanese women saying I couldn't be connected, so we are having to keep in touch by email."

Graham and Pauline, who live in Lynwood Grove, Moredon, have three daughters and four grandchildren.

Graham regularly visits Japan in connection with his work, although this is the first time a visit has been punctuated by one of Japan's earthquakes.

Pauline is glad her husband was in a building when the earthquake happened because tall Japanese buildings are specially designed to withstand earthquakes.

It is often people out of doors in cities who are more likely to be injured, typically by falling glass.

Now, as seismologists try to work out whether another quake in the area is likely, Pauline is looking forward to seeing her husband again.

The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks. Many buildings in the area were damaged and thousands of people are spending nights in shelters or in cars.

There have also been mudslides, including one which tore through a village, killing at least two.

Graham's tale

"I'm in one of the smaller buildings, and with only being on the 21st floor, maybe I didn't feel the full effects.

"The safest place to stay is in the hotel room. The elevators were shut down, so we couldn't go anywhere anyway.

"The only thing I noticed by peering out of the window was that the traffic came to a halt.

"As soon as the quake subsided, the traffic started up again as if nothing had happened.

"There was another small quake later, when I was in bed.

"The bed started to shake. It was a similar feeling to when someone shakes you to wake you up.

"As for the Japanese reaction quakes are a regular occurrence over here, although this was one of the larger ones."

Barrie Hudson