Quake was strongest in 200 years

The quake has been raised to 3.6 on the Richter scale

Seismologists have revealed that the Boxing Day earthquake in Dumfries was the strongest to have its epicentre in the region in more than 200 years.

The effects were felt as far away as Glasgow and Paisley.

The quake struck at 1040 GMT and was initially measured at 3.5 on the Richter scale - but that figure has now been increased to 3.6.

The British Geological Survey said it was the biggest quake in Dumfriesshire since records began in 1775.

The full details of the incident are outlined in an online report by the BGS.

It reveals that the epicentre was around five miles to the west of Dumfries.

Maximum intensity

The earthquake is recorded as having a maximum intensity of six - a rating given to quakes which are felt widely and have the potential to cause slight damage to buildings.

That is backed up by the results of an internet survey based on the accounts of local people.

More than 200 logged their experiences on the BGS website.

Several reported damage to properties - the worst being a wall which was split in two by the force of the quake.

The largest previous event locally was recorded in Lockerbie in 1888 and measured 3.4 on the Richter scale.

Across the border, the Carlisle area has been at the epicentre of two quakes with a magnitude of 4.7 - the last on Boxing Day 1979.