A sensing structure for an accelerometer, comprising: a support and a proof mass mounted to the support by flexible legs for in-plane movement in response to an applied acceleration along a sensing direction; the proof mass comprising a plurality of moveable electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction; at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114), each comprising a set of fixed capacitor electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction; each set of fixed capacitor electrode fingers being arranged to interdigitate with the movable electrode fingers; the proof mass being mounted to the support by a proof mass anchor 104) located on a centre line of the proof mass, the centre line being perpendicular to the sensing direction; wherein the proof mass takes the form of an outer frame surrounding the at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114), the flexible legs extending laterally inwardly from the proof mass to the proof mass anchor; wherein the at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114) comprises two inner fixed capacitor electrodes (110, 112), one on each side of the centre line of the proof mass, and two outer fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 114), one on each side of the centre line of the proof mass; characterised in that each of the two inner fixed capacitor electrodes (110, 112) comprises an anchored part (111, 113) anchored to the substrate and a cantilevered arm extending from the anchored part (111, 113) away from the centre line and having fixed capacitor electrode fingers mounted thereto; and each of the two outer fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 114) comprises an anchored part (109, 115) anchored to the substrate at a location that overlaps in the sensing direction with the cantilevered arm of an inner fixed capacitor electrode (110, 112) and a cantilevered arm extending from the anchored part (109, 115) away from the centre line and having fixed capacitor electrode fingers mounted thereto. a support and a proof mass mounted to the support by flexible legs for in-plane movement in response to an applied acceleration along a sensing direction; the proof mass comprising a plurality of moveable electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction; at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114), each comprising a set of fixed capacitor electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction; each set of fixed capacitor electrode fingers being arranged to interdigitate with the movable electrode fingers; the proof mass being mounted to the support by a proof mass anchor 104) located on a centre line of the proof mass, the centre line being perpendicular to the sensing direction; wherein the proof mass takes the form of an outer frame surrounding the at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114), the flexible legs extending laterally inwardly from the proof mass to the proof mass anchor; wherein the at least four fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 110, 112, 114) comprises two inner fixed capacitor electrodes (110, 112), one on each side of the centre line of the proof mass, and two outer fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 114), one on each side of the centre line of the proof mass; characterised in that each of the two inner fixed capacitor electrodes (110, 112) comprises an anchored part (111, 113) anchored to the substrate and a cantilevered arm extending from the anchored part (111, 113) away from the centre line and having fixed capacitor electrode fingers mounted thereto; and each of the two outer fixed capacitor electrodes (108, 114) comprises an anchored part (109, 115) anchored to the substrate at a location that overlaps in the sensing direction with the cantilevered arm of an inner fixed capacitor electrode (110, 112) and a cantilevered arm extending from the anchored part (109, 115) away from the centre line and having fixed capacitor electrode fingers mounted thereto.