A FREAK gust of wind - possibly a small tornado - picked up this 14ft trampoline, pictured, and carried it more than 30m, narrowly missing two parked cars.

The trampoline was blown clear of the garden of a house in Eppleby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, during a storm yesterday afternoon.

Householder Angela Chapman said: "The trampoline was originally up in the field, behind the two silver cars in the photo.

"The cars have no damage to them at all, and the trampoline did not travel along the ground, as there are no marks visible in the grass.

"It must have been picked up and taken over the gate and onto our garage roof, before coming to rest in the yard."

Mrs Chapman, who did not see what happened, said she was thankful that the wind did not blow the trampoline towards the cars, which could have seriously damaged the vehicles.

Weather forecaster and tornado expert Paul Knightley, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said the possibility of a tornado could not be ruled out, given the stormy weather conditions over North Yorkshire in recent days.

However, he said it was more likely that the tornado was picked up by a particularly strong gust of wind.

:: Do you have any photographs of the mysterious potential tornado? Email them to newsdesk@nne.co.uk