"Mini tornadoes" hit Lincolnshire

What's thought to be "mini tornadoes" were spotted in North Lincolnshire last night.

The freak weather has seen many people from the area take to social networking sites to decide what exactly the phenomena was.

A comment posted on Facebook about what was observed near Bottesford makes reference to "the awkward moment when the storm cloud you're watching out the window is trying to form a twister." The eye-witness added: "Never seen one before – except on telly."

Jackie Cunningham, who sent her pictures to Calendar, said: "My daughter Jaicee and I had to drop something off to a friend in Barnetby, Linconshire.

"As we arrived there was a huge flash of lightening and a loud clap of thunder. I pointed the 'twister' out to Jaicee and took the first picture.

" We then drove to the end of the road to sit and watch, we were very apprehensive but excited, especially as you could actually see the point moving closer to the ground, but just after I took the second picture it started to disperse."

Calendar's weather presenter, Kerrie Gosney, says:

"Quite a few people spotted ‘baby tornadoes’ or ‘funnel clouds’ over Lincolnshire last night. These are often associated with showery, thundery weather like we’ve been having this week.

Funnel clouds become a tornado if they touch the ground. If they touch water they become a waterspout, which can suck up water.

Funnel clouds are caused by up and down draughts that occur deep in a storm cloud (Cumulonimbus). These conditions can lead to the rotation of the cloud (vortex) at its base which causes the funnel effect."

Another picture - above - shows the view from Chris Power's home in North Lincolnshire