Tornado reports after wind leaves trail of damage

The freak vigorous gust of wind struck on Hayling Island on Tuesday night

Residents have been clearing up after a violent wind left a trail of destruction in Hampshire.

Trees were felled, roof tiles were ripped off and boats were left upturned in parts of Emsworth and Hayling Island at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday.

Paul Carpenter, who lives near the marina, said the force of nature "shook the whole house" but was "all over in a matter of seconds".

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said it was investigating to try and establish if the severe wind was a tornado.

The powerful sudden wind uprooted trees in Emsworth

Becky Mason, who lives in Emsworth, said: "I had never heard anything like it, it felt like it came over the house and lasted a minute if that and it just stopped."

She said they found two trees had crashed down into their garden and a 14ft (4.2m) trampoline "which hasn't moved in the three years we've been here flew across the garden. It was mental".

The volunteer-run TORRO organisation has appealed for anyone affected in either area on the Hampshire coast to send in a report to help its team investigate the severe and unusual weather.

Roof tiles flew off homes, with one smashing a car windscreen