British holidaymakers and locals alike were left terrified after a small earthquake shook a popular Costa Blanca resort. Residents and Brits staying in the renowned holiday spot for the Easter holidays revealed that they were "almost thrown out of bed" when the tremors hit just after midnight.

The epicentre was just over three miles from the centre of Torrevieja, according to the National Geographic Institute. Reports suggest it was a three-magnitude quake, at a depth of 621 miles. A British expat living in the Los Balcones resort said on social media: "It was something else. The whole house was shaking. I couldn't go back to sleep as I thought there was more to come."

Another local posted: " Note that I’m used to these types of events, and this was a very loud noise, as if rocks had been breaking deep underground.

"We were probably very close to the epicentre."

A third said that their whole house shook, while another stated: "I'm terrified".

While the intensity of the tremor was low, it would have also been felt in the areas of Los Montesinos, San Miguel de Salinas and Pilar de la Horadada.

While earthquakes are not a common occurence on the Costa Blanca, they are not unheard of.

The popular tourist area experienced a busy night of seismic activity last October, with three quakes striking the area in a span of just a few hours.