Residents in the English county of West Sussex have seen local buildings shake following an earthquake under the British Channel.

Officials at the British Geological Survey recorded the 3.9 magnitude quake at 08:00 this morning, with an epicentre south of Portsmouth.

The epicentre was recorded at a depth of ten kilometres, with no injuries reported back on land.

The incident is believed to have been the strongest quake in the UK this year.

Sussex Police, Solent Coastguard and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said they had not been called out to any incidents related to it.

Small earthquakes are not uncommon in the British Isles, with a slightly smaller quake recorded nine kilometres north-west of Ripon, North Yorkshire, in January this year.