North East skywatchers capture funnel cloud on camera

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Funnel cloud, Ashington, NorthumberlandImage source, Lesley Mitcheson
Image caption,

Lesley Mitcheson's husband Kevin thought there was a mini tornado near his home in Ashington

Distinctive funnel clouds - which look similar to tornadoes - spotted in the sky over north-east England caused excitement for weather watchers.

The weather phenomenon was captured in Northumberland and County Durham on Tuesday, with some on social media speculating it was a tornado.

Funnel clouds form around localised areas of intensely low pressure, in the same way as tornadoes.

But they are only classed as such if they touch the ground.

Image source, Aaron Betts
Image caption,

Aaron Betts saw the 'twister funnel' above Morpeth at about 14:45 BST

Image source, Weather Watchers: Farming Lass
Image caption,

According to the Met Office, funnel clouds, also known as a tuba, form when a rotating column of wind draws in cloud droplets

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