Cyprus has been hit by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has reported.

The tremor hit at around 11:30am local time.

The USGS put the epicentre of the quake just off the west coast of the Mediterranean island.

It struck about 7kms west-southwest of the town of Peyia.

The quake was mainly felt in the western Paphos region, but also in the capital Nicosia.

One member of British UK forces said however that nothing was felt at the RAF base at Akrotiri, on the south coast of the island.

Forces TV reporter Simon Newton tweeted: "Apparently an earthquake here in #cyprus this morning...Didn't feel anything on #RAF Akrotiri though."

Across the island, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Cyprus state radio reported that the tremor was a magnitude 5.3, at a shallow depth of 3km west of Kissonerga, a village popular with European retirees.

Sarah Ktisti, a journalist living in the region, told Reuters: "The chair I was sitting on started moving and my sister came running down the stairs to tell me the wardrobes and doors were rattling."

Cyprus lies in an earthquake zone, but large tremors are not common.

The highest recorded in recent years was a 6.3 magnitude in 1996 which caused some damage, but no casualties.