Homes the length of Wales were shaken by a powerful earth tremor in the middle of the night.

Hundreds of worried homeowners contacted the emergency services as the earth tremor measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

There were no initial reports of damage or injuries from two shock waves at 0100BST, which were reported from locations 120 miles apart.

Tremor: Police officers reported the event

The epicentre was reported to be in an area near Dudley in west Midlands.

But the powerful shock waves were felt in Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, the Vale of Glamorgan and even Swansea.

Graham Hoyle, from Newport, who lives in a sixth floor flat reported feeling the shaking quite vividly.

History of tremors in Wales:

1984 - Lleyn Peninsula, north Wales - 5.4 (Richter scale) 1991 - Bishop's Castle, Welsh borders - 5.1 February 2002 - South Wales Valleys - 3.0 September 2002 - north and south Wales - 4.8

Mr Hoyle said doors in his flat slammed, and cups and saucers were moving across the table in the lounge.

He added many car alarms were set off by the tremor.

Homes shaken

At Rhayader, resident Mike Atkins said it was the third tremor experienced locally in as many years.

"We did think at first that someone had driven into the house," he said.

Ken Edwards, from Pontlliw, near Swansea, said he thought he was being burgled.

" I shot out of bed, I did not know what was happening at all," he said.

"I thought someone was trying the house doors. It was as if something had thumped into the house."

In Wrexham, North Wales Police reported their own control tower block shook violently.

Police officers on patrol also radioed in to report the tremor.

In February this year, residents in the south Wales Valleys reported a tremor, registering 3.0 on the Richter scale which shook homes for miles around.

We can predict how big tremors and earthquakes will be but not when they will happen

Chris Browitt, British Geological Survey

The British Geological Survey says there are 200 quakes in Britain annually, and only 10% of those were ever felt.

The BGS predicted a force five quake could strike at any time, toppling chimney pots and roof slates.

Seismologist Chris Browitt said there was nothing to fear from the tremors.

"The risks from them are quite small but where there are industrial sites, it is important to take things seriously and the nuclear industry works with us very closely," he said.

"We can predict how big tremors and earthquakes will be but not when they will happen."

The UK's biggest recorded earth tremor shook Lleyn in Gwynedd on 19 July, 1984.