Woman, 84, Injured In 'Suburban Tornado'

Woman, 84, Injured In 'Suburban Tornado'

A woman has been taken to hospital after what has been described as a "tornado" ripped through a suburb.

A shop window was smashed by debris and two trees toppled over in the Heaton Moor area of Stockport, Greater Manchester, after a cloud-burst and sudden strong winds hit the area at around 2.25pm.

Firemen were called and an 84-year-old woman was treated by paramedics, then taken to hospital suffering from cuts and bruises.

It is thought she was hit by debris from the chimney, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said.

No other injuries were reported.

The spokesman said the damage was localised and firemen were at the scene to secure the area underneath the chimney.

Dave Ashton, 38, from Heaton Mersey, was in his computer shop at Moor Top on Heaton Moor Lane when he witnessed what appeared to be a "brief tornado".

"It went almost pitch black," he told BBC Online.

"The wind suddenly turned up about 20 notches to the point when it became quite frightening.

"It felt like you were in the middle of a hurricane and then it all died down and outside you could just hear car alarms."