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To that end, the dire wolf was bigger than the grey wolves that existed at the same time, with large, shearing teeth carrying an extremely strong bite force.

Up to a foot of land movement per week has been recorded in recent months, fracturing the walls of homes and blowing off roofs, shearing underground pipes and opening massive fissures in the earth.

This could happen, according to Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics, if there is "a market dislocation that deepens and starts to threaten systemically important institutions and/or broader financial stability".

"While the report was bad it wasn’t that bad," said Mr Shearing.

Now living in a three-bedroom house, Mrs Shearing said the family were much calmer in their new accommodation.