16-month-old Boxer Jessica is believed to have sensed the quake was going to strike after exhibiting some peculiar behaviour hours before the ground shook.

Owner Wendy Brooks from Mablethorpe, who has five pet Boxers, said: "She was acting very strangely from around 6.30pm, pacing up and down, panting and looking nervous. She kept getting up and glancing behind her as if something was there and then she'd look up at the ceiling and cower down in fear.

"The other dogs were all fine but Jessica wouldn't even eat her dinner. I was so worried I thought about taking her to the vets in the morning."

When the earthquake finally struck around 1am, reaching 5.2 on the Richter Scale, homes across Mablethorpe and as far afield as Scotland felt the rumble, which, for many, gave way to a silence punctuated by the sounds of dogs barking in their neighbourhood.

Wendy said: "As soon as it was over Jessica immediately reverted to her usual happy self. Boxers are an intelligent breed but I've never noticed anything unusual about Jessica before, she's just a very affectionate dog."

She added: "I do think she must have a sixth sense and I will certainly take heed of her warnings in the future."

The belief animals can predict natural disasters dates back to 373 BC when an earthquake devastated the Greek city of Helice and historians recorded the unusual actions of animals at the time.
More recent reports came after the Asian Tsunami in 2004 when animals were seen congregating on a nearby hill moments before the first wave struck.

* Jessica and her brother Giles, kennel names Jinnybrux Gene Scene and Jinnybrux Genetic Genie, are championship show winning Boxers, set to compete in the Junior classes at Crufts in Birmingham this Saturday.

* Is your pet psychic? Can it sense something is about to happen? Email gemmagadd@jpress.co.uk