A mini tornado has smashed through a town causing havoc in Widnes, Cheshire this afternoon.
Residents have posted footage of their garden walls, bins and ornaments that were flung onto the main road by the unusual weather.
Police have received reports of damage to properties, fallen walls, smashed car windows and debris on Widnes streets.
Dom Smith was driving his car when the twister struck at lunchtime. He said he watched in disbelief as a child’s trampoline was sent soaring over rooftops.
He added: “The next minute bins started flying in the air, trees going.
“Within about 20-30 seconds it was back to normal.”
Lynn Fraser was indoors when the storm swept along her street.
She said: “It sounded like it was wind and rain and the next minute it was like giant hailstones, and then like an aeroplane engine whirring.
“And then the next minute I could hear crashing and things smashing.
“I thought it was a house that had blown up or a bomb that had blown up.”
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A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: "At 12.25pm on Wednesday 20 October police received reports of damage in the Widnes area.
"The damage includes a wall falling down, windows of cars smashed and debris on Camberwell Road.
"A number of road closures are in place including Camberwell Road at the junction of Moorfield."
The statement adds: "Damage has also occurred to the garage of a property on Kensington Close.
"There have been no reports of any injuries.
"The damage has been reported to police as being caused by a mini tornado."
Earlier this week a yellow weather warning was placed on the county and residents were told to expect strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms.
A forecaster at the Met Office said: "An area of heavy rain and thunderstorms will move quickly eastwards across Wales and southwestern England into parts of central, southern and eastern England during Wednesday morning.
“Many areas will see a spell of rain whilst some places will be affected by thunderstorms bringing a brief period of heavy rain, lightning, and strong, gusty winds with hail also affecting some spots.
"Gusts will tend to peak at 40-50 mph, but whilst very unlikely in any one place, much stronger winds are possible here and there, then potentially damaging some structures."
