TILES were ripped from roofs and old trees sent crashing to the ground as tornado-like winds ripped through the county.
People living on part of the Tewkesbury Mitton estate were amazed by the ferocity of the weather on Tuesday night.
The weather saw half a dozen old trees blown over by the house of last year's town mayor Ken Powell.
The strong wind picked up at about 10.15pm and left a trail of destruction in a straight line through the Mitton estate.
Some residents did not hear anything but others, directly under the path of the winds, said it made a loud noise.
Many emerged from their houses yesterday morning to survey the damage caused to their properties and gardens.
Alan Biggs, of Stanton Road, said: "It only lasted about a minute but the whole house shook and we were lucky not to lose the car port."
The winds lifted the structure's wooden beams away from the ground and he was one of several people on the estate yesterday looking into putting in an insurance claim to pay for the damage.
Neighbour Glenda Marshall was in a similar situation as a number of tiles had been ripped off the roof of her home and sent crashing into her back garden.
She found one of her plant pots had been blown from the front of her home right round to the back.
She said: "I actually thought there had been a car crash because there was a bang. I thought somebody had gone into my front wall.
"That was what it sounded like. The wind made such a noise.
"It could have been the tiles coming off, I don't know. I don't think I've heard winds like that for a long time."
Mr Powell, who lives in Carrant Road, found foliage from trees at the bottom of his back garden scattered all over the place. Some were in his road and some had blown up on to his roof.
Some branches fell on to his railings, while others landed in, and partially blocked the Carrant Brook.
He said: "It must have been a form of whirlwind. It's amazing."
A trampoline was blown from one garden into the next, clearing a fence in between.
He added: "What sort of wind does that?"
A Met Office spokesman said the damage was likely to have been due to "squally winds" rather than a tornado.
The weather in the week ahead will continue to be overcast with rain expected today, with highs of 13C (55F). It is expected to stay cloudy as the week continues.
