A rare supercell thunderstorm which tore through Greater Manchester is believed to have spawned a tornado which damaged dozens of homes as Storm Gerrit disrupted flights, trains and ferries and left thousands without power.
A major incident was declared overnight in Tameside after the tornado tore roofs and chimneys from homes, shattered windows and left debris and uprooted trees littered across streets – prompting calls for prime minister Rishi Sunak to call an emergency Cobra meeting “to ensure a swift, robust recovery plan”.
