Insurers have said homeowners should be covered for the cost of any damage caused by yesterdays earthquake which was was felt from southern Scotland to the south coast of England, and from East Anglia to Wales.

Malcolm Tarling, spokesman for the Association of British Insurers, said: “It is a pretty scary event but will not be a major incident for insurers. Damage appears to be limited at this stage.”

Structural damage would be covered by buildings insurance, while contents insurance would cover the cost to broken items in the home, he said.

Any damage caused to vehicles by falling tiles and chimney pots would be covered if the owner had fully comprehensive car insurance.

The tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale and with its focus 3.1 miles (5km) below the Lincolnshire town of Market Rasen, struck at 12.56am.

Most of the incidents Fire and Rescue Services responded to involved collapsed chimneys and dangerous roofs.

The British Geographical Survey (BGS) said that the centre of the quake was about five miles (8km) east of Market Rasen.

The BGS said it records around 200 earthquakes in the UK each year, an eighth of which can be felt. It said earthquakes of this size occur in the mainland UK around every 30 years but are more common in offshore areas.