Suspected tornado leaves ‘devastation’ in Portchester

A suspected tornado ripped through part of a Hampshire village, leaving “devastation” in its wake, a resident has said.

The weather phenomenon left a line of damage about one mile long (1.6km) and about 100m (328ft) wide in the village of Portchester on Thursday night.

Sarah Horton, from the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO), said it was linked to Storm Austen bringing in heavy showers and changing winds.

Kevin Saunders, who lives in the affected area, said: “Our neighbours’ walls are down, trees have gone, bushes have gone, metal fencing’s gone, so it’s just complete devastation.”

Saunders said he and his wife were in bed when they heard “a massive rush of wind”.

“It felt like the roof was going to lift off of the house,” he said.

“Straight after that, we heard a massive bang, which was one of our neighbour’s walls falling over.”