STUNNED people living in a Derbyshire town hit by a tornado told the Derby Telegraph about their terrifying ordeal.
Residents in Alfreton said it passed over their streets and close to the centre of the town yesterday afternoon.
Eight fire engines went to the scene and firefighters used a lifting platform - similar to a cherry-picker - to assess the damage from the air.
Neighbours stood in the streets outside the cordoned–off zone to watch the clear-up operation.
The cordon covered around 20 houses in Mansfield Road and about half that number in Catherine Street.
People unable to get to their homes last night were told to take refuge with the help of Derbyshire County Council at the Leys Junior School, in Flowery Leys Lane.
Daniel Stone, 22, of Milton Avenue, said: "I was in the kitchen looking out of the window and there was a huge gust of wind and my shed just collapsed, it was that bad. Trees have been pulled up in the garden.
"I've never seen anything like this before. We wanted to stay inside to stay safe – it was petrifying seeing it. We've got roof tiles that have come off and they will need to be repaired. I could not believe what I saw."
Simon Cuttell, of Catherine Street, said: "The house next to us has had significant roof damage. When I felt it, I was puzzled as to what was happening. Outside in the garden, there was stuff all over the place."
Amy Needham, 25, of Mansfield Road, said: "I've come home and I can't believe what has happened."
She said she and husband Craig went up to the loft and saw "quite a bit of damage".
She said: "We're quite lucky the roof has not come off.
"It's been incredibly stressful seeing all these fire engines here. We feel for what has happened to other people on the street."
Craig said: "Things are not as bad as others but it's still not great. For us, it's just uncertain what the damage is."
Hugh Brunt, 67, said the storm was the worst he had seen in the seven years he had lived in Catherine Street. He said: "There were really high winds and a tremendous hail storm that lasted about ten minutes. Looking out the window I can see leaves and branches everywhere. It was horrendous. There was rainwater flowing down the road. I've seen rain like that before but not winds that strong." Lisa Vaughan, 40, of Catherine Street, said: "I can't get in my house at the moment. It's worrying because I don't know if my house has been damaged.
"I've got two cats and they are bound to be petrified. I've told it will be another three hours before we can go in."
Donna Unwin, 41, of Mansfield Road, had a chimney pot fall through her roof, leaving a gaping hole.
She said: "It was very worrying when I came home. I got a call at work to tell me what had happened. I don't know what I'll do about the damage. We've just got to wait and see. It's a good job I wasn't in the house at the time."
Katie Chappell, 28, a Tesco worker, who lives next door to Donna, was in her house when the tornado struck. She said: "I can't go in my house at the moment. I can't even get my car off the drive."
She said she was upstairs in a bedroom talking to her father when she saw the tornado.
Katie said: "I saw bits of paper and tiles flying all the place. The tiles had lifted off the roof and were all spinning around. It was a tornado and it was just amazing to see.
"It was moving and I could see my car shaking. I've never seen anything like it."
The garden gate at the house was blown down.
Charles Diver, 59, of Mansfield Road, was in his garden when the when the tornado struck. He said: "All this stuff was flying around. It really loud, even for me and I am a little bit deaf. At the time, I didn't know what the damage would be but I've got a huge hole in my roof.
"I wouldn't say it was scary because I didn't know what was happening!"
Dean Gazzard, fire station manager at Alfreton, said in 20 years as a firefighter he had never seen anything like it.
He said: "A gable has been installed at a house in Mansfield Road and we have worked with building control to make it safe.
"The house will be assessed but the roof and side wall will need replacing."
He said he could see the tornado at the station.
He said: "The skies was full of leaves and it was really windy.
"It was really torrential."
