A FREAK weather system ripped through a set of allotments in Worcester on Friday morning leaving a devastating path of destruction.

The strong winds - which allotment owners said they believed was a 'mini tornado' - hit the allotments in Droitwich Road some time on Friday morning, destroying greenhouses, overturning sheds and uprooting trees.

Although no one was there at the time, the wind seemed to have ripped through from the south-east end of the site to the north-west end in a straight, but very narrow line, meaning many sheds, fences and greenhouses next to those damaged were left completely untouched.

Describing the damage as "incredible" the allotment's site supervisor Dan Robb said he had been on the site first thing in the morning and all was well, but had later been called by a friend telling him about the damage.

"Thank God no one was there at the time," he said.

"Luckily it wasn't a Saturday when we have lots of people here.

"It's affected about half a dozen allotments.

"It's really the wrong time of year for this to have happened - it's sad but there's nothing we can do about it.

"With an allotment you've got enough to put up with without things like this.

"I'll have to get in touch with the allotment owners to tell them, but they'll all take in their stride."

Greg Teague was one of the allotment owners whose greenhouse was totally destroyed, and said he had little choice but to break up the remaining pieces and take it to the tip.

"I just can't salvage any of it," he said. "It was all coming along so nicely.

"I'll just have to start again."

Ian Michaelwhite of Pershore-based forecasters Netweather said the destruction could have been caused by a mini tornado or another system known as straight-line winds, but without having been there at the time it was difficult to be sure.

"Straight-line winds are caused when there is a band of really intense rain and embedded with that was a lot of wind," he said.

"These are sometimes seen in cities as a result of the layout of the land, with elements such as fences.

"Suddenly the wind can go from 40mph to 60mph in a straight line.

"With trees in full leaf at this time of year the winds can be spectacular.

"But without seeing it it's very, very difficult to say for sure."

Did you see what happened? Drop the Worcester News a line on 01905 742244 or email news@worcesternews.co.uk.