Kent has been in the grip of a tornado - well, almost!

Sky-spotters were shocked to see what appeared to be a twister in the skies over Kent.

As it didn't touch the ground technically it's called a funnel cloud.

But it had one south Kent woman awestruck.

Caroline Taylor said she couldn't believe her eyes when she spotted the twister (see picture taken by fellow sky-watcher Nick Mooney, left) in the clouds above Sellinge at about 3pm today.

" I was just going to my partner's house and I looked up and there was a grey cloud, with a white funnel coming out of it.

"I was so shocked, I just quickly got on the phone to my partner and said 'my goodness, there's a tornado, quick get my camera.'

Audio: Caroline Taylor on her close call with a funnel cloud

"I drove straight to his house down in Monks Horton and tried to film what I could of it.

"You could see the funnel coming out and going across the sky. It was heading towards the ground, but it didn't make it to the ground. Not that I could see.

"It's the first time I've ever seen one and I just couldn't believe it. I was so close to it - it was absolutely incredible."

Met Office forecaster John Hammond said funnel clouds had also been spotted in the Folkestone area.

He added:"The quirky shape of the Kent coast and sea breezes coming in has enabled a bit of rotation in the atmosphere for these funnel clouds to develop in one or two spots."

The county has coastlines stretching in three directions, so on a warm day like today, you can get sea breezes coming in from different directions, he said.

That can cause a "convergence line" where the winds meet, creating a rotational force.

"Tornadoes themselves are part of the UK climate," added Mr Hammond.

"On average you get about 30 or 40 each year, but funnel clouds probably happen more often because they are really the precursor to a tornado."

Did you see the funnel cloud over Kent? Have you seen a twister? Add your comment below - or send in your pictures of yesterday's funnel cloud to countynews2@thekmgroup.co.uk