Monitoring Equipment Detects Mini Earthquake in Lancashire and the Lake District

12th January, '26

Site Surveying Services has recorded clear evidence of the mini earthquake that occurred late on Tuesday 3 December at approximately 23:23, affecting parts of Lancashire and the Lake District.

The seismic event, which was reported by residents across the region, was later covered by the BBC, confirming a small but noticeable earthquake in the area. According to the BBC, the tremor was felt by people indoors, with reports of light shaking and unusual noises in some locations.

During the event, one of our engineers at Site Surveying Services identified a distinct anomaly in live monitoring data captured by our vibrometer and tiltmeter equipment. The instruments are part of a long-term vibration and tilt monitoring system currently installed within a client’s building in the region.

WHAT OUR DATA SHOWS

Review of the monitoring data highlights a clear and sudden spike in Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) at 23:23 on 3 December, coinciding precisely with the reported earthquake time.

- A sharp, isolated increase in vibration velocity, significantly above background levels, recorded by the vibrometer.

- After a quick analysis of the tilt meter readings at that point in time we were able to remotely determine that no movement out of the ordinary had taken place as a result of the earthquake. This has since been back uped by manual readings on monitoring prisms using traditional methods

- The event stands out clearly from normal daily variations caused by temperature change, background traffic, or operational vibrations.
- No prolonged aftershocks or sustained vibration were recorded, consistent with a small seismic event rather than construction-related activity.

The clarity of the spike, combined with its timing and short duration, strongly supports the conclusion that the equipment captured the ground motion from the earthquake itself.

This finding aligns with wider reports of the tremor, including coverage by the BBC News, which confirmed the occurrence of a minor earthquake in the Lancashire and Lake District area on the same evening. Residents reported brief shaking and unusual sensations, typical of low-magnitude seismic events in the UK.

THE ROLE OF MONITORING CAMPAIGNS AND EQUIPMENT

While Site Surveying Services’ monitoring system was installed for building protection and condition assessment, this event highlights the wider value of high-resolution vibration and tilt monitoring. Systems designed to safeguard structures during construction or infrastructure works can also provide reliable, time-stamped evidence of unexpected ground movements such as earthquakes.

Site Surveying Services is a UK-based specialist consultancy providing professional surveying and monitoring solutions nationwide. We deliver vibration, noise, dust, crack, and tilt monitoring campaigns for both short-term and long-term projects.

Our monitoring campaigns support a wide range of schemes, including:

Major Housing Developments

Road & Infrastructure Projects

Industrial & Commercial Sites

Small Factories & Residential Properties

We have successfully delivered both large- and small-scale monitoring projects, tailoring each system to suit site constraints, client requirements, and regulatory standards.

This recent event demonstrates the reliability and sensitivity of our monitoring equipment, as well as the expertise of our team in interpreting complex data accurately.