Shocked Ferring residents describe what appeared to be a 'mini tornado' ripping through their village last night (Oct 20).
Bad weather in Sussex yesterday and overnight, appears to have culminated in what residents of Ferring Village are calling a 'mini tornado'
One resident has reported how the wind, "Lifted a heavy glass top out of our garden table up in to the air and smashed it into the side of the house," adding, "Never seen anything like it."
And another:
"All our garden furniture smashed into the wall, the noise was just incredible!!"
Another resident reported two trees had come down at the Ferring end of Singleton Crescent.
The comments were posted on Ferring Village Facebook page, where many people had reported smashed up fences, broken walls, broken garden furniture and bins that had moved from the front of the house to the back.
Chris Thwaites, a Ferring resident sent us this picture of his garden wall and the felled trees:
He said:
"The noise was amazing, like thunder and wind at the same time. Quite impressive, but you can follow the arc that it took through the road with the damage."
One mum reported a clock falling off her wall in the 'sunlounge':
"Never experienced anything like it horrific!!"
People also described the terrible noise.
Meanwhile, BBC Sussex has reported "possible tornado damage" in Widnes in Cheshire last night.
Pictures show smashed car windscreens, broken walls and damaged roofs.
BBC weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans, commented on the event in Widnes saying:
"Tornadoes, although very unusual, can and do happen here in the UK. We actually get around 30 reports each year.
"Most are isolated and low impact - but some cause far more damage, especially when they occur in built up or urban areas."
Torro - the `UK's Tornado and Storm Research Organisation has been in touch with residents in Ferring, asking them to make a report.
More to follow.
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