There were dozens of sightings of a whirlwind as it spiralled across mid-Norfolk this afternoon.

There were dozens of sightings of a whirlwind as it spiralled across mid-Norfolk this afternoon.

The distinctive cloud was spotted in Swanton Morley, Gressenhall, Whinburgh, Dereham, Weston Longville, North Elmham, Bawdeswell, Hingham, Costessey and Wymondham, with eye-witnesses claiming it was up to 200m long.

Marcus Stafford, of Dillington, near Dereham, who sent pictures to the EDP, said: “It was heading towards Norwich and when I first saw it it was almost vertical and then it was at about 30 degrees.

“You could see it moving and it was fantastic! I have never seen anything like it. It looked like a water spout but couldn't have been as it was not near water so it must have been a tornado.”

Sarah Maund, of Primrose Lane, Swanton Morley, said: "It was absolutely amazing."

Her 13-year-old daughter Chloe saw it first. Mrs Maund said: “Chloe ran down the stairs in amazement and said 'Mum there's a twister in the sky!' We started singing Yellow Brick Road! It was great to see it.”

Weathergirl Julie Reinger, speaking on Radio Norfolk, said she thought it was a funnel cloud, rather than a tornado, which form when the clouds touch the ground.

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