Tornadoes hit parts of Britain

An active cold front crossed parts of England during the morning of Monday 24 September 2007. This caused squally winds and a series of tornadoes which struck communities across England, damaging homes and vehicles and uprooting trees. The ABI provides insurance advice for homeowners.

The Met Office confirmed that a storm hit Northampton, where falling branches damaged an empty school bus.

It also said that a violent gale damaged gardens and homes in Luton. Part of a factory roof was blown off in Breaston, Derbyshire.

Also affected were Farnborough, Hampshire, and Nuneaton, Warwickshire. There have been no immediate reports of injuries.

Winds damaged around 20 homes in Trafford Drive, Nuneaton, with tiles pulled from roofs, cars smashed and debris scattered across the streets, Warwickshire Police said.
In a statement, the Met Office said that the gusts were "conducive to tornadoes" and measured T2 or T3 on the TORRO scale (which ranges from 0 to 10), meaning they were "moderate to strong". According to Nina Ridge from the BBC Weather Centre said that the winds reached 60mph.

The tornado research group TORRO claims an average of 33 tornadoes are reported annually in the UK.

Nick Starling, the Director of General Insurance for the ABI (Association of British Insurers) said: "While tornados in the UK are thankfully very rare, unexpected extreme weather incidents like this are exactly what insurance is here for. Insurers will be doing everything possible to help policyholders who have suffered damage, and will be dealing with all claims as quickly as they can."

In the wake of these tornadoes, the ABI provided the following advice:
    *    Damage caused to homes and businesses will be covered by buildings insurance.
    *    Household policies will cover the cost of alternative accommodation (up to a limit stated in the policy) if you need to move out of your home while repairs are carried out.
    *    Damage to motor vehicles will be covered under comprehensive motor insurance.

People who have suffered damage should:
    *    Contact their insurer for advice on making a claim.
    *    Most insurance companies will have emergency 24-hour helpline numbers.
    *    If necessary, arrange for any temporary repairs to stop damage getting worse.

Keep receipts, as these will form part of your claim.
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