RESIDENTS were today clearing up debris from collapsed garages, roofs and conservatories after a tornado swept through several streets on the outskirts of Preston.

But even though the whirlwind struck on Tuesday, November 27, at around 11am, they were still in shock that it had descended on their Walton-le-Dale homes.

It only passed through for a matter of seconds, but ten of the 12 bungalows on Milton Close were worst hit causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.

Houses on Moss Acre Road and Hawkshead areas of Penwortham were also affected. The tornado was first seen in the sky in Chorley, near Withnell.

Despite two days of intense work to remove rubble, gardens on Milton Close are still buried in slates, bricks, and glass.

Two families have moved out to friends because their bungalows were leaking water after the tornado lifted their roof up a couple of inches. One garage was reduced to a pile of rubble, and workmen were today rebuilding it. Resident Marion Brown, 52, pictured with husband John, saw the tornado descend on her street from her bedroom window. "I saw everything swirling around across the road coming over from Masefield," she said. "I was just shocked. I was putting something away in the drawers and heard something. If I hadn't of looked up at that second I would have missed it."

Marion shouted to John, 53, who was laid up in bed off sick from his job as a bus driver. The force of the tornado passing through the house had knocked him to the floor.

"The curtains had been sucked through an open window," he said, "it must have only lasted for four or five seconds.

"We looked out of the window and just saw debris everywhere and couldn't believe it had happened."

The Brown's bungalow needs a new roof at a cost of £25,000 following the tornado.