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Small 'tornado' batters village | Small 'tornado' batters village |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Ceredigion village has been hit overnight by what is being described as a small tornado. | A Ceredigion village has been hit overnight by what is being described as a small tornado. |
A clean-up is under way after emergency services were called to Bow Street, north of Aberystwyth, at 0130 GMT. | A clean-up is under way after emergency services were called to Bow Street, north of Aberystwyth, at 0130 GMT. |
More than 20 houses were affected with roofs and chimneys blown off, while electricity cables have been brought down and trees uprooted. | More than 20 houses were affected with roofs and chimneys blown off, while electricity cables have been brought down and trees uprooted. |
Residents said houses shook before the storm hit, sounding like a train crashing. No one has been injured. | Residents said houses shook before the storm hit, sounding like a train crashing. No one has been injured. |
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: "It was apparent that what is believed to be a tornado had struck parts of the village. | A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: "It was apparent that what is believed to be a tornado had struck parts of the village. |
There was an amazing bang at about 1.15am - it was like a train running out of control. Villager Gwynfor Davies | |
"Commercial and residential premises, vehicles and caravans were damaged." Kevin Walsh, the owner of a bungalow which had its chimney ripped off by high winds, said: "At quarter past one this morning I heard a rumble coming, didn't know what it was, and then it hit the house. | "Commercial and residential premises, vehicles and caravans were damaged." Kevin Walsh, the owner of a bungalow which had its chimney ripped off by high winds, said: "At quarter past one this morning I heard a rumble coming, didn't know what it was, and then it hit the house. |
"The house shook, I heard a crash. I came outside and found the (chimney) stack here on the ground. | "The house shook, I heard a crash. I came outside and found the (chimney) stack here on the ground. |
"It hit us first and then sliced a path through the village. | "It hit us first and then sliced a path through the village. |
"Across the road there's a house there whose roof has been taken off. Further down another roof's been taken off. " | "Across the road there's a house there whose roof has been taken off. Further down another roof's been taken off. " |
Gwynfor Davies, whose house is on the main road through the village, said: "There was an amazing bang at about 1.15am - it was like a train running out of control. | |
A caravan was upturned and trees were brought down | |
"Within about four minutes it had gone. I rushed outside to see the chimney had been taken off the roof and it was on the road. When that hit the road it was like a bomb going off." | |
He added he believed thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused to his house. | He added he believed thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused to his house. |
Wayne Clarke who lives on the village's Maes y Fechan estate said: "One of my bedroom windows was blown in but luckily no-one was in the room at the time. | |
"The only way I can describe the noise was it was like thunder. Tiles were blown off my roof, four of my neighbours' cars were damaged." | "The only way I can describe the noise was it was like thunder. Tiles were blown off my roof, four of my neighbours' cars were damaged." |
The main road through Bow Street - the A487 - was closed for four hours while the properties were made safe and the highways authority cleared debris. | The main road through Bow Street - the A487 - was closed for four hours while the properties were made safe and the highways authority cleared debris. |
Council highways officer Andy Dunn said: "A number of cars have been damaged with falling debris. | Council highways officer Andy Dunn said: "A number of cars have been damaged with falling debris. |
"A caravan's been turned over, part of a roof's been taken off and I believe there's a few trees which have fallen across the railway line from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth." | "A caravan's been turned over, part of a roof's been taken off and I believe there's a few trees which have fallen across the railway line from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth." |
A mobile building was blown over the rail line onto a children's swing | A mobile building was blown over the rail line onto a children's swing |
British Transport Police said a railway bridge has been damaged and about half a mile of track through the village has been littered with debris. | British Transport Police said a railway bridge has been damaged and about half a mile of track through the village has been littered with debris. |
It is thought the line between Aberystwyth and Borth could be closed for much of the day. | It is thought the line between Aberystwyth and Borth could be closed for much of the day. |
A spokesperson for the Met Office said it was too early to confirm whether it was a tornado that had hit the village. | A spokesperson for the Met Office said it was too early to confirm whether it was a tornado that had hit the village. |
A spokesperson said: "It's very difficult to tell at this stage - we really need to see the impact in the daylight. | A spokesperson said: "It's very difficult to tell at this stage - we really need to see the impact in the daylight. |
"It often leaves a trail mark if it is a tornado. It's certainly a possibility." | "It often leaves a trail mark if it is a tornado. It's certainly a possibility." |
But John Mason, a member of Tornado and Storm Research Organisation which investigates tornadoes and extreme weather in the UK, said it was a "quite significant tornado". | But John Mason, a member of Tornado and Storm Research Organisation which investigates tornadoes and extreme weather in the UK, said it was a "quite significant tornado". |
"Although I haven't finished my investigation yet I think it is about a force three tornado. That's one less than the tornado that hit Birmingham last year which was a force four to five, " said Mr Mason, from Machynlleth. | "Although I haven't finished my investigation yet I think it is about a force three tornado. That's one less than the tornado that hit Birmingham last year which was a force four to five, " said Mr Mason, from Machynlleth. |
Have you been affected by the tornado? Contact us using the form below: | Have you been affected by the tornado? Contact us using the form below: |
Do you have any pictures or moving footage of the storm? If so, send via email to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or via MMS to 07725 100 100. | Do you have any pictures or moving footage of the storm? If so, send via email to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or via MMS to 07725 100 100. |
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |