THIS is the moment a ‘tornado’ left a trail of destruction of a housing estate in Widnes this afternoon.

Extremely high winds battered the town shortly after 12.15pm today, Wednesday.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Video footage captured via a CCTV camera on a house on the new build estate off Moorfield Road showed the moment the storm hit.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Contents of gardens - including a trampoline - were left strewn around the neighbourhood, with windows smashed and brickwork and fences damaged.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Trees were also torn down, while several cars were dented by flying debris.

It is understood that nobody was injured during the incident.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Several road closures are in place, with Cheshire Police on the scene.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

A force spokesman said: "At 12.25pm on Wednesday, October 20, police received reports of damage in the Widnes area.

"The damage includes a wall falling down, windows of cars smashed and debris on Camberwell Park Road.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

"A number of road closures are in place, including Camberwell Park Road at the junction of Moorfield Road.

"Damage has also occurred to the garage of a property on Kensington Close.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

"There have been no reports of any injuries.

"The damage has been reported to police as being caused by a mini tornado."