Rugby tornado
© Diane Slater
High winds have ripped through a Warwickshire town, blowing the roof off one home and damaging others in what residents have called a "mini tornado".

Police said a number of properties suffered structural damage as winds battered Rugby from around 6pm on Wednesday.

Rugby resident Magdalena Townsend told the Coventry Telegraph that she had watched as her trampoline was lifted up by the gales.

"I just heard a big bang and suddenly my 10ft trampoline flew into my next door neighbour's garden," she said.

Rugby tornado
© Diane Slater
"I just couldn't believe it. It brought the fence down and is completely broken into pieces now.

"It was frightening at the time and I just quickly grabbed my coat and ran next door to see if they were OK. Everything in the street was just smashed."

Warwickshire Police spokesman said: "One house in Adams Street is reported to have had the roof blown off, and another suffered extensive damage when wind blew the chimney stack down.

"Telephone lines have also been blown down in the high winds, which some residents are describing as like a mini tornado."

Rugby tornado
© Chris Gallagher
Some residents also reported having tiles blown from their roofs by the "powerful gusts", the spokesman added.

No one was injured in the weather phenomenon, but police advised drivers and pedestrians in the town to beware of debris from the buildings which was blown into surrounding streets.

The county buildings inspector has been called to assess the damage to any affected buildings.