The funnel cloud makes its way through west Wiltshire Photo: Glenn Phillips (30765)A FREAK cloud formation left onlookers wondering if they were about to be hit by a tornado on Monday.

Just days after homes in Birmingham were devastated by the worst tornado to hit these shores in 25 years people in Trowbridge and the surrounding area were stunned to see a funnel appear from a cloud overhead.

Barbara Gosden, 49, was walking towards her Quilling Close home after finishing work when she saw the phenomenon.

Mrs Gosden, who works for Wiltshire County Council, said: "I saw a funnel shape coming out of the cloud. It was a bit too soon after the Birmingham tornado and I thought 'Oh my God, what if that comes down and reaches the ground like it did in Birmingham?'

"Normally I would have thought it was interesting but it was a bit too close to home after what happened there."

The funnel appeared in the sky at about 5.15pm and could be seen for miles around before it dissipated, without hitting the ground, about 20 minutes later.

Mark Humphries, 44, a machine operator at Airsprung Beds, spotted the funnel, while sitting in the back garden of his home at Newleaze, Hilperton.

He said: "I was just sitting in the back garden having a cup of tea and I saw this big black cloud appear and then this funnel came down.

"It was the first time I had ever seen anything like that, apart from on the TV. I was a bit nervous at first but it was quite exciting."

It is not the first time such a weather phenomenon has hit the area, and last time the funnel cloud did hit the ground, making it a tornado.

In October 2001 the tornado formed over Westbury, tearing through the town in the early evening, striking a dozen homes in Boulton Close, damaging trees, cars, lampposts and blowing with enough force to fling a caravan 3ft in the air.

Weather enthusiast Andy Brown witnessed the 2001 tornado and said he felt lucky to have seen this week's funnel cloud as well.

The 27-year-old was in the kitchen of his Leighton Park Road home in Westbury when he spotted the cloud out of the window. He said: "I have been interested in the weather since I was a child but I got really into it after I saw the tornado in Westbury four years ago.

"It is amazing to be able to see things like this here without having to go storm chasing in America."

Funnel clouds are formed at the bottom of a storm cloud but are not classed as a tornado unless they hit the ground or there is a visible debris cloud or dust whirl below it.

There are on average 33 tornadoes in the UK each year, but most are weak and cause little damage.