The Met Office confirmed a tornado struck south of the region following “unstable conditions” including hail, wind and torrential rain. The gail-force winds hit Altrincham and Mobberley at around 5.00pm (BST) just after rain drenched the Greater Manchester area. Residents around the area have described a “scary” 10-second gust of wind appeared suddenly with powerful gusts and a “huge bang”.

Witnesses said the noise was “alarming” and said tiles were blown off roofs during the unusual weather.

Another local resident said she found fence panels and branches in her garden.

The resident also photographed a canvas gazebo which had blown off a roof and landed on the roof of a house in the suburb.

She told the Manchester Evening News: “About 5.15pm the wind went from 0 to 80 all of a sudden, it only last about 10 seconds.

“I didn’t know where this wind had come from and all of a sudden stopped, it was scary as I also live close to the airport.

“I went outside after to find fences in my garden, large branches and gazebos.”

Another resident in the area called Martin Kevill tweeted a video of trees which had fallen on the road in Cheshire.

He wrote on Twitter: “Erm there’s been a tornado in #Mobberley.”

Mr Kevill said he was in the pub when the whirlwind hit.

He said: “We were in the Railway and heard really powerful gusts outside and then a huge bang.

“The pub shook and the gusts were very powerful.

“By the time we went outside there were people everywhere taking pictures.

“A few trees have been ripped entirely from the ground.”

“The wind was going and the trees were shaking as it went down the road.

“It didn’t look like a classic tornado, but it was very strong winds.

“The roof has crashed and hit the front yard of someone’s house.

“A few of the houses on Hale Road have got tiles ripped off. It was torrential rain and then it sort of disappeared a bit. It was quite scary.

“The noise it made was alarming. It just came and went. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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