A MINI tornado is believed to have struck Hampshire this morning bringing chaos to a main road.

Trees were brought down trees either side of the A3057 between Romsey and Timsbury at around midday.

Karen Slowen, landlady of the Dukes Head pub at Greatbridge, was just about to leave for Romsey when she found the road blocked.

"The wind ripped through here like a hurricane," said Karen, who said that a passing car's windscreen had been smashed by a falling branch.

Karen added that trees had also been blown down along the B3084 toward Awbridge.

There were also reports of trees coming down in nearby Belbins and Timsbury.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Ampfield is closed for public safety reasons after several trees were blown down. Bosses will assess the situation later today.

The fierce winds coincided with torrential rain and lightning.