Family homes destroyed when 95mph TORNADO tears through Welsh holiday village and flattens buildings
Locals have spoken of their lucky escape after the devastating winds tore through the seaside village
HOMES have been flattened after a tornado ripped through a holiday village.
Winds of up to 95mph tore through the village of Clarach Bay, near Aberystwyth, West Wales, destroying seaside chalets in dramatic scenes.
Trees were ripped out of the ground with up to 20 caravans blown over by the damaging gusts.
Homes were ripped to shreds with the devastation caught in dramatic photos taken just after the dangerous winds swept through the village.
One car was crushed under a fallen tree with a yellow weather warning issued for wind by the Met for the West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as for Wales.
More than 550 properties across Wales were left without power.
Bad Achub Aberystwyth Lifeboat shared their shock at the powerful gusts, writing: "Did you just feel that huge gust of wind in Aberystwyth?"
Measuring the wind speeds at 94mph, they said the wind was the "highest ever speed we have recorded".
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Slates were blown off roofs while windows were sucked out and chimney stacks destroyed.
Holiday camp director Thomas Scarrot took pictures of the tornado aftermath, describing the scene as "absolute carnage".
He said: "It was a very frightening experience, it just came out of nowhere.
"It must have been a tornado because a holiday village opposite us doesn't seem to have any damage."
He added: "Thankfully we are closed so there is only a few workers and maintenance people, otherwise I reckon there would have been a lot more injuries."
English teacher Katy Rink said: "Break time had just started and we suddenly noticed the leaves were flying by our windows horizontally.
"It was a furious tornado.
"We told the girls to keep away from the windows and then our front door blew in and our huge pictures in the lobby all blew off the walls and shattered.
"We also lost one of our beautiful window panels in the Great Hall.
"It was the most intense weather event I have ever experienced."
Luckily, no one is believed to have been hurt.
A Met Office spokesperson said: "We've had a squally band of rain spreading across the country and intense winds which have left damage in places.
"We have a wind warning in place until 5pm, where there will be continued breezy conditions, and tomorrow with associated showers of hail and thunder.
"Showers will continue tonight, mainly in central and western parts.
"It's chilly now, and there will be frost and ice in places on Thursday night, mainly southwest Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England."
It is now forecasted to be cold throughout tomorrow with temperatures picking up over the weekend.
A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire Service said 20 caravans had also been turned over nearby and several roads were blocked.
Buses were cancelled amid the chaos with other roads closed due to fallen trees.
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