SUPPORT is growing for residents of Wortwell who have been unable to claim for damages caused by a possible tornado.Last week The Journal revealed that a number of insurers have been refusing to pay out for damages caused by a freak storm on August 12 which ripped through Wortwell, Mendham and Homersfield at the beginning of the month because the companies say they have no record of it.

SUPPORT is growing for residents of Wortwell who have been unable to claim for damages caused by a possible tornado.

Last week The Journal revealed that a number of insurers have been refusing to pay out for damages caused by a freak storm on August 12 which ripped through Wortwell, Mendham and Homersfield at the beginning of the month because the companies say they have no record of it.

However this week the park warden at the Waveney Valley Lakes lodge and caravan park in Wortwell and a tourist from Lakenheath have come forward to support the residents' claims - and they believe it may have been a tornado.

Business finance manager Richard Mann, who lives in Lakenheath but was then staying in a caravan at Waveney Valley Lakes, took pictures of the damage after the storm and is offering local people copies to help their insurance claims.

He believes that it was “more like a tornado than a storm,” similar to the one that had occurred in Lakenheath five days earlier.

Mr Mann, 43, writes: “We could not believe the ferocity of the wind and rain, a large farm style double gate was ripped in two on the site, huge branches were ripped from trees, and a large tree fell near our car, as well as another further down the track.

“A trail of damage was left throughout the park, and it took all day for workmen to clear the damage - this was definitely no 35 mile per hour wind, and at its peak you could not see 10 yards in front of the caravan.

“The rain was actually blown completely sideways by the wind - I have never seen anything like it. The sound of the wind and rain was so loud that we did not even hear the trees and branches falling down around us.”

Meanwhile Peter Cunliffe, park warden of the Waveney Valley Lakes, said that the storm ripped up around a dozen trees in the park, a few of which were 50 or 60 years and well established.

He also said that the storm had “weaved” through the park like a tornado, pulling up trees and leaving plant pots that were just a few feet away.

He said: “If it was just a wind it would have had everything, but this actually weaved its way through the park. A twister, tornado, whatever you want to call it, it was something more than just wind.”

However this week it was still not confirmed whether residents in Wortwell would receive compensation for the damage caused.

The FSA, the governing body who set out the guidelines for insurers, were unable to comment on the individual cases of each firm, however they said that the onus is more on the individual insurers to make a fair judgment of each case and that an insurer must not unreasonably reject a claim.

If you would like copies of Mr Mann's photographs to show your insurance companies you can contact him on 07748 723242.