Town blasted by tornado wind

A mini-tornado sent debris flying 20ft into the air as it hit the streets of Willenhall. Experts said the phenomenon was a "dust devil" which normally only app-eared in deserts.

It was caused by the warmest weather of the year so far.

The three-minute tornado happened yesterday afternoon in a car park in Lower Lichfield Street in the town centre.

Eye-witness Elizabeth Watts, a 23-year-old dance teacher from nearby Classic Academy of Dance, said: "There was loads of dust - and it must have been about 20ft high. It kept going for three minutes and whizzed all round the car park, it was wild."

Andrew Sibley, a forecaster from the Met Office, said dust devils usually happened in deserts or hayfields but there were often one or two across the country on very hot days.

"When the ground gets hot, you do get these twisty winds on the surface that pick up rubbish and dust," he said.

Unbroken sunshine yesterday saw temperatures reach 25C (77F), providing perfect conditions for Bank Holiday events and attractions. Today's temperatures were expected to hit 23C (73F) but storms were said to heading to the West Midlands.

* Did you film or photograph the "mini-tornado"? If so, call our newsdesk on 01902 313131.