Salvage operation after 'tornado'

Roofs in three roads were damaged in the freak weather

Reports of a tornado followed damage to about a dozen houses in West Sussex, early on Thursday.

Emergency teams were called after chimneys were blown through roofs in three roads in Horsham at about 4.30am.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the roofs were covered in salvage sheets to stop the rain pouring in.

Weather experts said the reported mini-tornado was more likely to be strong winds, but that tornadoes are not unusual in the UK.

It is difficult to ascertain whether there has been a tornado or just strong winds, but people look at the damage to see whether it is spread out in a spiral pattern Nick Miller, BBC meteorologist

Fire officer Gary Towson said houses were damaged in Brighton Road, St Leonards Road and Kerves Lane.

"When we got there it was dark.

"People had chimneys blown in and others were asleep.

"The extent of the damage was only being realised as people started waking up.

"The worst damage was the chimneys and other properties had minor damage, such as roof tiles blown off, and others lost their TV aerials."

He said Brighton Road was closed but reopened later and representatives from West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council were at the scene.

Police were also called in the early hours, he added.

Nick Miller, BBC South East broadcast meteorologist, said tornados were not unusual in the UK.

"They come from a particularly big storm cloud where rotation develops, and that rotation, including strong winds, touches the ground.

"They differ somewhat in strength and severity from those that we are used to hearing about in the US.

"Often, it is difficult to ascertain whether there has been a tornado or just strong winds, but people look at the damage to see whether it is spread out in a spiral pattern.

"People often say a tornado sounds like a freight train."