Aftershocks expected after two earthquakes shake Blackpool

The tremors shook homes in holiday resort

Aftershocks from two earthquakes that struck in the Irish Sea may be felt for days to come, it has been claimed.

The Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) said the quakes, which occurred this morning off the north west coast of England, were probably caused by stresses built up from the weight of glaciers covering land during the Ice Age.

INSN director Tom Blake said it was unusual that the earthquakes - measuring 2.4 and then a stronger 3.3 on the Richter scale - happened in the Irish Sea.

"It is impossible to tell if stronger earthquakes will occur in the coming days and weeks, but aftershocks can be expected even if most, if not all, will be too weak to be felt," Mr Blake said.

No injuries have been reported.

Social media users took to Twitter saying they felt the ground move beneath them, particularly in the north west of England.

Blackpool resident Cathy Welsh told the BBC, “I looked round and the bed was shaking. I thought it was a big lorry going past.”

A slightly larger earthquake was recorded in the Irish Sea back in May, which was felt in parts of Ireland and north Wales.

The 3.8 magnitude tremor occurred 15km away from Abersoch in Gwynedd, Wales.

People as far away as Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow and Kildare claimed they felt it at the time.