SEVERAL trees in the Yorkshire Dales had to be cleared from an A-road after thunderstorms brought them down.

Large trees, up to about 40ft in height, came down on the A684 in between Moorcock and Hawes in North Yorkshire.

The trees, which blocked roads at around 6pm on Thursday, were moved and cleared by members of the public from surrounding villages and settlements.

A team from North Yorkshire County Council also helped to remove the fallen trees.

Eddie Lord, who stopped to help the clean-up operation, said: "We were on our way home.

"Seeing the trees like that was fairly surreal. There was even a little tornado.

"There was a lot of debris in the road and there was quite large branches that had come off."

Mr Lord, who helped a farmer and tree surgeon cut down the obstructions, said: "The trees were about 30 to 40ft into the fields on either side of the roads.

"There was something weird about it – I don't think you would have want to be there when it all happened."

Andrew Davies, highways manager for Richmondshire at North Yorkshire County Council, said: “After receiving a report of several fallen trees blocking this section of road we had a maintenance team, including a specialist tree surgeon, on the scene from 8.15pm to complete a clean-up operation.

"I would like to thank the local community for their support during this activity as well as the staff who responded quickly and safely to reopen the road.”