I WAS in Sherston, near Malmesbury, at 12.53am on September 23. Sitting quietly in the living room I suddenly detected a shaking sensation and one of the lamps juddered on its table. This motion went on for about ten seconds.

My brother rushed in and we agreed there had been an earthquake. Later, our perceptions were proven correct as we learned of the earthquake centred on Dudley which measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

The phenomenon reminded me of the earthquake of July 19 1984. This was the largest recorded onshore quake in Britain, centred on Lleyn, North Wales. It measured 5.4 on the Richer scale and shook an area of around 150,000 square miles. Nine days later I was in mid-Wales guiding tourists around the Dolaucothi gold mines at Pumpsaint. If I remember correctly, the mines had been closed briefly as a safety precaution.

NICHOLAS GOUGH

Kennedy Drive

Eldene

Swindon