Biggest earthquake to hit Britain in 25 years to cost tens of millions

HOUSEHOLDERS across Britain were last night counting the cost of the biggest earthquake to hit Britain in nearly 25 years.

Thousands of people, some as far apart as Dumfries in Scotland and Swansea in south Wales, were abruptly shaken awake when the tremor struck just before 1am.

Insurers estimated the damage caused by the quake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, would amount to tens of millions of pounds.