Communities around Farnham have been battered by a fortnight of wild weather with flooding, heavy rain and even a tornado leaving a minor trail of destruction around the area.

The twister that made national headlines on Friday, September 20, hit the Badshot Lea area around midday and followed a 1.2mile path north of the Big Pond and Tice’s Meadow.

Although it was classified as a T1 or T2 ‘light’ or ‘mild’ tornado the weather event was still alarming with residents speaking of “a terrifying noise” and “things lifting off the ground” with a block of flats on Cadnam Close being damaged.

The tornado also uprooted trees and damaged properties on Lower Farnham Road, Osprey Gardens, Basing Drive, Andover Way, Ayling Lane, Sandown Crescent and Boxalls Lane.

“Just as I looked out of our front window the sky became full of flying debris of all shapes and sizes, there was then a loud cracking sound and a large tree across the road was snapped in two,” said local resident, Ray Heath.

“The top half was ripped away and crashed into Lower Farnham Road and blocked the traffic in and out of Badshot Lea for several minutes, as torrential rain pelted down.”

The ‘Great Tice’s Twister’ also got a mention on the BBC One Show as volunteers at the beauty spot were interviewed for the popular evening show last Wednesday.

There was more drama in nearby Upper Hale the following day as a house was struck by lightning while flooding was reported on Weydon Mill Lane following last week’s heavy rainfall.

Railway services between Farnham and Guildford were also suspended last Wednesday as overnight right caused led to flooding on the line between Ash and Wanborough.

Buses replaced rail services between Aldershot and Guildford for much of the day.