A husband had a lucky escape when a freak gust of wind ripped the roof off his house.

Simon Hodgkinson was working at home in Rackham Road, Amberley, at about 4pm yesterday when the freak gust of wind caught the flat roof and sent it crashing to the ground.

Mr Hodgkinson, 32, said: "The sky had gone very dark and then I heard a bang. When I opened the front door and saw what had happened I got out as fast as I could and ran for my life. It is one of those things that just happen but it was quite terrifying at the time."

His wife Olivia, also 32, a teacher at Chichester High School, was out shopping with her daughter Betsy, two, and her mother, Diana Hawkins, from Arundel, at the time.

Mrs Hodgkinson said: "My mum answered the mobile phone and I knew something was wrong. She said that Simon was all right but that a mini tornado had hit the house.

"We have spent three years doing the house up and had almost finished it.

"I suppose there could have been a lot more damage so in a way we have been quite lucky."

Neighbours and family were yesterday helping the family to clear up the aftermath of the incident, which also downed nearby power cables.

Neighbour Carol Martin said: "I was terrified when the wind got up. It was blowing a gale and set our house alarm off but I think we escaped lightly."