An earthquake has shaken parts of Kent, damaging buildings and disrupting electricity supplies.

Homes in five streets in Folkestone had to be evacuated because of structural damage including cracked walls and fallen chimneys.

The magnitude 4.3 tremor struck at 0819 BST and experts said its epicentre was a few miles off the coast in the English Channel.

One woman was taken to hospital with a neck injury.

Chief Superintendent Ally Hope said: "Given the time this happened and the number of people that were about we should be genuinely thankful that so few

The injured 30-year-old woman was taken to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service took more than 200 emergency calls, from people concerned about a variety of issues ranging from structural damage to gas smells.

EDF Energy said it had managed to restore electricity to most of the several thousand homes left without power in the Folkestone and Dover area.

Ch Supt Hope said that the major transport infrastructure in the area also appeared to have escaped damage.

"The information I have is that the ferry ports are running normally, and that the Channel Tunnel is running normally," he said.

He said he was aware in some cases there are secondary tremors and called for people in the area to be alert, but not alarmed.

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