Kent Police began receiving reports of the earthquake in the East Kent area at around 2.57am today
To recap on this morning's dramatic events:
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 shook windows and caused walls to creak when it struck in the middle of the night in Kent.
No injuries or damage to buildings were reported following the tremor four miles (7km) south of Ramsgate at 2.52am, Kent Police said.
Locals reported books being shaken from shelves and described the earthquake as feeling like a vehicle had been driven into their property.
One thought their hotel door was being kicked in, another described their house creaking, while a third said the tremor sounded like a "heavy object rolling over the roof of the house".
More than 800 "felt reports" were received by the British Geological Survey (BGS), mainly from residents in Ramsgate, Margate and surrounding areas.
Quake hits Kent and Essex in early hours
Police say there have been no injuries or damage to buildings after a magnitude 4.2 earthquake was felt in parts of Kent.
Seismologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the tremor, which was felt in areas including Ramsgate.
The organisation tweeted: "Prelim data now online ... 4.2 magnitude earthquake nr Sandwich, Kent."
Kent Police was inundated with calls about the incident.
A spokesman said: "It has now been confirmed parts of East Kent has been affected by an earthquake measuring just 4.3 on the Richter scale (British Geological Survey).
Kent Police began receiving reports of the earthquake tremor in the East Kent area at around 2.57am today. Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Services have not received any reports of structural damage or injuries.
"We will continue to liaise with our partner agencies to ensure we are providing help and support in any areas needed," the police spokesman said.
Residents tweeted their reactions after being awoken by the tremors.
Residents take to Twitter after being woken by quake
Residents tweeted their reactions after being awoken by the tremors this morning.
Vikki Petts said: "So we just had a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in Kent and my housemates slept through the entire thing. certainly woke me up!"
Jonathan Tapp said: "Earthquake in East Kent and now can't get back to sleep. Despite months spent in NZ this is my first one that I've felt."
Iain Buchanan, of Ramsgate, said: "So I'm not going mental, my house shook due to an earthquake in Kent of all places. Thank god for 24 hrs news & social media to find out."
He added: "Lying in bed when the house suddenly shook. Thought something had collapsed outside, so got up to check.
"I've looked outside and all appears to be fine in the street. No damage that I can see. Will obviously see more later when it's lighter. Weird experience anyway.
"I actually thought it was an explosion of some sort and not an earthquake."
Tremor causes damage to homes in east Kent
The quake left some home damaged with brickwork collapsing onto the street.
The tremor was initially recorded with varying measurements, including the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, based in Paris, said the earthquake measured 4.3 on the Richter scale.
It tweeted: "M4.3 earthquake strikes 46km SE of Southend-on-Sea (United Kingdom)."
The US Geological Survey measured the quake as magnitude 4.0.
Similar quakes happen every two years in UK
The British Geological Survey said earthquakes similar in size to the one that struck Kent happen around every two years in the UK and about 4,500 times a year across the world.
It tweeted: "Today's 4.2 magnitude Ramsgate earthquake is approx 260,000 times smaller than the 7.8 NepalQuake event.
"This morning's earthquake is approx 25km north-east of the 28 April 2007 Folkestone earthquake which had a magnitude of 4.3 ML."
Quake hit just 62 miles from London
The quake hit just 62 miles to the east of London.
The British Geological Survey Tweeted this seismicity map.
Measurements of the quake's size differ slightly between the agencies, with some recording a 4.2 magnitude quake and others 4.3.
Earthquake wakes residents in early hours
This morning's earthquake off the Kent coast woke hundreds of people - many of whom took to Twitter to ask whether others had felt the tremor.
One, Martin Paterson, tweeted: 'Earthquake!!! Bloody earthquake in Canterbury woke me up!'
Another, Nathan Merclassi posted: 'No word of a lie there was just a mini earthquake in Kent!'
Recap: Magnitude 4.3 quake hits just 62 miles from London
Buildings were shaken in Kent and Essex this morning by a 4.3 earthquake.
Seismologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the tremor, which was felt from Sandwich in Kent to Southend in Essex.
Kent Police was inundated with calls about the incident.
A spokesman said: "It has now been confirmed parts of East Kent has been affected by an earthquake measuring just 4.3 on the Richter scale (British Geological Survey).
Kent Police began receiving reports of the earthquake tremor in the East Kent area at around 2.57am today. Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Services have not received any reports of structural damage or injuries.
"We will continue to liaise with our partner agencies to ensure we are providing help and support in any areas needed," the police spokesman said.
'It was genuinely one of the most scary things I've experienced'
A man has posted a You Tube video describing the fear he felt the moment the quake hit.
"It's genuinely one of the most scary things that have happened to me.
"I have so much respect for the people in Nepal."
'Either a giant just bounced on my roof or I felt a quake!'
Dozens of people have taken to Twitter to describe the moment they felt the earthquake hit.
Residents across east Kent up into Essex - from Deal to Southend-on-Sea, reported feeling the tremor.
There have so far been no reports of damage or injuries following the quake.
'My whole house shook'
Residents have described feeling their homes shake when the quake hit in the early hours of this morning.
One, Alex Perkins, even questioned whether the tremor was just a magnitude 4.3.
The British Geological Survey said earthquakes similar in size to the one that struck Kent happen around every two years in the UK and about 4,500 times a year across the world.
Epicentre close to beautiful medieval town
The British Geological Survey (BGS) says the tremor struck near the medieval port town of Sandwich at a depth of 15km (9.5miles) at 2.52am.
Residents in Margate, Canterbury and as far away Southend-on-Sea, Essex, reported feeling the earthquake.
BBC South East reporter Simon Jones, who lives in Canterbury, said he was woken up when his house started shaking.
He said: "The initial thought was perhaps something had gone into the house, like a lorry but then I turned to social media and people right across east Kent were reporting an earthquake."
He said: "The initial thought was perhaps something had gone into the house, like a lorry but then I turned to social media and people right across east Kent were reporting an earthquake."
'Woke to the house shaking'
Residents have been taking to Twitter to describe the moment the quake hit.
Vikki Petts tweeted: "So we just had a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in Kent and my housemates slept through the entire thing. certainly woke me up!"
Charlie Entrope tweeted: "Woke to the house shaking! Reports of it across town and further afield."
Jonathan Tapp said: "Earthquake in East Kent and now can't get back to sleep. Despite months spent in [New Zealand] this is my first one that I've felt."
Iain Buchanan, from Ramsgate, said: "So I'm not going mental, my house shook due to an earthquake in Kent of all places."
Police said they began receiving reports of the tremor in east Kent at about 02:57 BST.
Emergency services have not received any reports of any damage so far.
Police said they began receiving reports of the tremor in east Kent at about 02:57 BST.
Emergency services have not received any reports of any damage so far.
Quake comes 8 years after tremor destroyed houses in Folkestone
In April 2007 more than 70 houses were destroyed when an earthquake hit Folkestone, Kent.
That tremor registered 4.3 on the Richter scale at a shallow depth of 5.3 km.
A total 474 properties were reported as damaged, with 73 properties too badly damaged for people to return to, 94 seriously damaged, and 307 suffering from minor structural damage.
Hundreds reported feeling tremor
The British Geological Survey said that this morning's earthquake's epicentre was approximately 7km south of Ramsgate.
Over 400 "felt reports" were received, including from places as far afield as Norwich, North Walsham and Cromer in Norfolk.
People reported being woken from their sleep, with windows rattling and furniture shaking.
Twitter users however made light of the quake, jokingly posting "devastating scenes" of overturned wheelie bins and garden furniture with messages such as "We will rebuild".
Experts say difficult to pinpoint exact location of quake
Experts said it was difficult to link the earthquake to a specific fault line.
David Galloway, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, said: "The whole of the UK is criss-crossed by thousands of fault lines but most of them are at depth.
"This means we do not pinpoint a specific earthquake to a specific fault because even if a location is a few hundred metres off it could have been a completely different fault.
"Fortunately we do not live on the plate edges - for example the San Andreas fault in California can actually be seen at the surface, but the faults in the UK are blind and most earthquakes happen at a depth of between 5km and 25km.
"Earthquakes happen all over the UK - we get some 200 a year on average. One of the scale of this morning's only happen every two or three years."
Residents jolted from their beds as books thrown from shelves
Residents in the Kent port of Ramsgate reported being jolted from their beds in the middle of the night, including 42-year-old Muni Prasad.
He said: "We were woken up suddenly. For a few seconds the property was moving. In my daughter's room, books had fallen down.
"She came to our room and said, 'Did you feel it?' And we said we had. We are on the second floor so when a big vehicle goes by we sometimes feel it.
"But with this my wife said it felt like something different."
A spokesman for the BGS said earthquakes of this magnitude are felt in the UK every three or four years, describing it as
A spokesman for the BGS said earthquakes of this magnitude are felt in the UK every three or four years, describing it as
"quite significant".
He told BBC Radio Kent: "There could be (more tremors). Not all earthquakes have aftershocks. Most of the energy could have been released in this one earthquake and the next one might not be for another three, four, five or 10 years. We can't predict."
Quake felt over wide area
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck parts of Kent and Essex this morning.
The tremor, at a depth of around 5 miles underground, hit near the medieval town of Sandwich - just over 60 miles from London.
Kent Police was inundated with calls about the incident.
Cops began receiving reports at around 2.57am.
Dozens of people took to Twitter to report feeling the quake - with one man even posting a video describing how frightened he was as his home shook.
Twitter users mock quake saying 'we will rebuild!'
Residents have taken to Twitter to make light of today's earthquake, with some posting 'we will rebuild' with a picture of an upturned wheelie bin.
There were no reported injuries or damage to buildings from the magnitude 4.3 tremor which struck near Sandwich in Kent in the early hours of the morning.
One - calling himself Sgt Arthur Wilson - posted: 'Jerry can't defeat us and neither will an earthquake. It's time for Kent to rebuild.'
Twitter users mock 'devastation' cause by quake
Photos of the supposed 'devastation' caused by today's quake are continuing to appear on Twitter.
One tweeted this picture below, jokingly estimating the cost of damage from the tremor at 39p.
Several tweets mocking the earthquake include the vow 'we will rebuild.'
'It felt like a lorry hit the house'
Residents in Ramsgate described feeling their homes shake while others slept through it.
Bob Fludgate said: "I was woken up in the early hours as if a lorry had hit the house. I'm quite a deep sleeper, too.
"I woke up, nothing had happened so I went back to sleep. It just cleared."
Sarah Luddington said: "I was in bed and I went downstairs because I thought something had smashed into the house, like a car or something.
"It was awful but there was no damage. I could feel everything shaking. Everyone else was asleep, it was just me. It was scary."
Sarah Coleman said: "I slept through it and I heard about it on the news this morning. I thought 'an earthquake' and I hadn't heard nothing.
"I went on Facebook and it was all on there. The boyfriend's family said that the bed shook and they wondered what it was. My daughter felt it as well. She said her bed shook."
Funny Tweet tells people to sit on phone to relive quake
One witty Twitter user has suggested an inventive way of reliving the Kent earthquake.
'Twop Twips' told other users to sit on their phones and ask someone else to send them a text.
The tweet is one of a number posted online which have mocked the limited impact of this morning's quake.
Hundreds report feeling tremor
More than 800 "felt reports" were received by the British Geological Survey (BGS), mainly from residents in Ramsgate, Margate and surrounding areas following this morning's earthquake.
But the BGS said reports of the earthquake were also received from as far afield as Norwich, North Walsham and Cromer in East Anglia.
In Ramsgate, Muni Prasad, 42, said: "We were woken up suddenly. For a few seconds the property was moving. In my daughter's room, books had fallen down.
"She came to our room and said 'Did you feel it?'. And we said we had. We are on the second floor so when a big vehicle goes by, we sometimes feel it. But with this my wife said it felt like something different."
Bob Fludgate said: "I was woken up in the early hours as if a lorry had hit the house. I'm quite a deep sleeper, too.
"I woke up, nothing had happened so I went back to sleep. It just cleared."
Recap: The earthquake that woke Kent this morning
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 shook windows and caused walls to creak when it struck in the middle of the night in Kent.
No injuries or damage to buildings were reported following the tremor four miles (7km) south of Ramsgate at 2.52am, Kent Policesaid.
Locals reported books being shaken from shelves and described the earthquake as feeling like a vehicle had been driven into their property.
One thought their hotel door was being kicked in, another described their house creaking, while a third said the tremor sounded like a "heavy object rolling over the roof of the house".
More than 800 "felt reports" were received by the British Geological Survey (BGS), mainly from residents in Ramsgate, Margate and surrounding areas.
But the BGS said reports of the earthquake were also received from as far afield as Norwich, North Walsham and Cromer in East Anglia.
In Ramsgate, Muni Prasad, 42, said: "We were woken up suddenly. For a few seconds the property was moving. In my daughter's room, books had fallen down.
"She came to our room and said 'Did you feel it?'. And we said we had. We are on the second floor so when a big vehicle goes by, we sometimes feel it. But with this my wife said it felt like something different."
Bob Fludgate said: "I was woken up in the early hours as if a lorry had hit the house. I'm quite a deep sleeper, too.
"I woke up, nothing had happened so I went back to sleep. It just cleared."
"I went on Facebook and it was all on there. The boyfriend's family said that the bed shook and they wondered what it was. My daughter felt it as well. She said her bed shook."
Kent has been at the centre of tremors before. In April 2007, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake hit Folkestone, causing cracked walls and fallen chimneys at dozens of buildings.
The British Geological Survey said earthquakes similar in size to the one that struck this morning happen around every two years in the UK and about 4,500 times a year across the world.
It said: "Today's 4.2 magnitude Ramsgate earthquake is approx 260,000 times smaller than the 7.8 Nepal Quake event.
"This morning's earthquake is approx 25km (15 miles) north east of the April 28 2007 Folkestone earthquake which had a magnitude of 4.3 ML."
Some Twitter users made light of the quake, jokingly posting "devastating scenes" of overturned wheelie bins and garden furniture with messages such as "We will rebuild".
Experts said it was difficult to link the earthquake to a specific fault line