A TORNADO which ripped roofs from houses and drains blocked by ice in July are among the extreme Weather incidents in East Lancashire featured in a new television programme.

BBC weather presenter Dianne Oxberry visits the parts of the region that have seen the most extreme weather in a half-hour special, Wild Weather on BBC1.

The programme examines various aspects of the region’s weather including July 18, 1964, when some of Haslingden’s drains were blocked by ice in the middle of summer following a terrifying storm.

it also shows footage of a 70mph mini-tornado struck on the May Day Bank Holiday, 2005, in the village of Hoghton.

It was about 100 yards in diameter and took the roof off one bungalow and chimney pots of others in Hoghton Lane.

Around 30 properties were damaged where the tornado struck with 25 firefighters and 10 police officers attending.

The programme takes an in depth look at the region’s varied climates and the science behind the weather with Dianne meeting the people and visiting the places affected by some of the region’s most interesting weather patterns.

Dianne, said: “A year ago, would we really have anticipated a savage snowy winter and a summer of drought? Probably not.”

Executive Producer for Wild Weather, Tony Parker, said: ”We want to offer people a rich experience that enables them to look at their local weather patterns in a totally different light.

“Our weather presenters will embark on a journey where they explain the science behind local and regional weather patterns.”

Dianne also visits Seathwaite in the Lake District, officially the wettest place in England and the epicentre of the flooding which caused so much damage in Cumbria last year.

She also talks to Victoria Pritchard from Ormskirk who was hit by a 100 million volts of lightning in May this year while walking on the fells in Grasmere.

Extreme weather in East Lancs

  • 1990: Electrical storm rips through East Lancs in August, causing £1million devastation.
  • 1995: Hosepipe ban imposed until October 1996 after unprecedented drought.
  • 2000: Hundreds of East Lancashire homes hit by the worst flooding for more than a decade. Pendle and Ribble Valley badly hit.
  • 2007: 92mph hurricane winds blow the roof off Haslingden Leisure Centre in January.
  • 2008: Roof of the Grade II listed Hargreaves Warehouse, Church, blows off in high winds.
  • 2010: Coldest winter for 30 years. Snow for almost three weeks. February to July is the driest on record, prompting hosepipe ban.

Wild Weather is broadcast on Monday, September 20 at 7.30pm.