Pictures show damage after 'tornado' hits Peak District village

The ‘tornado’ hit at 6am on Monday, March 13 and caused damage to The Queen Anne Inn, on Main Street and Great Hucklow Primary School on School Lane as well as to houses and farms in the area – even killing a bull which was sheltering from the high winds.

Headteacher Andrea Tomlinson said: “Our site supervisor was at the school just moments after it happened and spotted the fallen trees.

"Then we realised the extent of the damage; the greenhouse has been smashed, the early years outdoor area trashed and we had a hole in the roof we knew it was really serious. We also had no power, but none of the village did.

"Being part of a schools federation meant all the children have gone to Stoney Middleton school while the repairs take place.

"Luckily everything has moved really quickly and we are hoping to be back in the school on Thursday.”

Speaking on Facebook, farmer Margaret Heath added: “It’s brought five big beech trees down like dominoes at our farm in Rushton Spencer and killed our pedigree British Blue Bull who was sheltering underneath.”

Award winning Peak District photographer, Villager Jim, travelled through the village on his way home at just after 7am.

He said: “I came up Trott Lane, I noticed two small trees down, then turned to go onto the main straight road to Great Hucklow and was totally amazed to see many huge trees down the road. I counted six that had been uprooted.

"So many old trees lifted up like matchsticks and it even had the power to knock down stone walls. It lasted around 45 seconds but what damage. Total mayhem and the power of it was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Torro, which keeps records of tornado incidents and severe storms across Britain and Ireland, has been informed about the phenomenon.

A spokesperson for the organisation added: “We are looking at the severe weather event in Great Hucklow, Derbyshire.

"Local people have been very helpful, indicating where damage occurred and the nature of it.

"We will put all of this information together before drawing a conclusion.”