Damage to trees and a house on the Essex coast could have been caused by a rare waterspout, tornado researchers have said.

People in Frinton-on-Sea reported at about 11:40 BST that strong winds had hit, causing damage in the areas of Rainham Way and Stansted Way.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said it was not clear yet whether it had been a tornado or just strong winds, but it was possible it had been a waterspout after similar reports in Kent earlier in the morning.

Resident Gillian Lamb said "leaves and sticks were doing a little swirl" and "did whoosh all around".

"It wasn't a normal sort of behaviour for [the leaves]," said Lamb, who was out in her garden at the time in nearby Newport Way.

"Then the rain came a bit heavier and then we just went inside because obviously it had got too difficult to garden."

Lamb said the "fierce" winds hit for no longer than five minutes and cushions on her garden furniture were blown around.

Her property was not damaged, but the winds damaged roof tiles at another home nearby and its chimney stack could be seen smashed on the ground.

Some trees had also been felled.

A spokesperson for TORRO explained that despite high pressure dominating much of the UK at the moment, there was a "cold pool aloft coming westwards" from the nearby continent.

This over the top of the warm seas, following "such a hot summer" had resulted in instability, they added.

"We have already received reports of waterspouts off the Kent coast earlier on Sunday morning, so it's possible this may have been a waterspout initially that came onshore," they said.

"We won't know exactly whether this was a tornado, or just strong, gusty winds associated with the showers, until a full investigation into the damage has been undertaken."

Waterspouts are a type of tornado that occur over water and because they form over water, typically the damage they cause is less extreme.

TORRO has asked anyone with information to contact the group.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said it had not been sent any footage from Frinton of tornado activity.

"But the weather, set up in the area of thunderstorms and intense showers, do make it all very plausible," they added.

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