A “tornado” has been caught on camera as it ripped a roof from a building and damaged homes.
CCTV footage from Sompting captures the moment wind rushed through a car park, throwing debris in all directions.
James Watts and his colleagues from Coverzone were surprised when they found the footage after parking a car in the camera’s view to test a new car cover.
James said he saw debris across the car park when he arrived at work this morning.
His colleague, Lukasz Dziecielski, arrived at work just moments before the “tornado” tore through the car park.
He said: “I parked my car and it became very nasty. I could see some objects flying from a roof, as well as some tree branches.
“I had to stay in my car for three or four minutes as it was too dangerous outside.
“After my colleague came to work, he showed me some photos of a tree that came down. I realised it must have happened just after I drove in.”
Residents in nearby Avon Close said tiles were ripped from roofs and fences smashed after the "tornado" tore through their street.
The suspected twister comes less than a week after another tornado struck Littlehampton, causing damage to homes with winds as high as 130mph.
Storm Ciaran has caused significant damage and disruption across Sussex, with trees, floodwater and downed power lines blocking roads, along with delays and cancellations to public transport.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here