Somerset.

They were forced to dash back as the lightning storm burst yesterday morning.

And barely had they shut the door behind them they witnessed the tornado strike.

"Everything went black, and the grass, trees and bushes were twisting about.

It was amazing,'' said assistant director Mrs. Marion Lister.

"The kids watched it all from the door. There is no doubt it was a tornado.

"It was incredible. There was paper on the pavements which was twisting and spiralling. Everything was swirling.'' She added: "We tried to ensure the children weren't frightened. They became really excited by what they saw.'' Mrs. Lister had gone out on a morning nature drive with the children. But they had to double back to the Heathcote Hill nursery as they were caught in the storm at about 11.15 a.m.

"We got back to the school and it started hailing and the sky went black,'' said Mrs. Lister.

She said anxious people had rung the nursery amid fears of structural damage.

"Fortunately we weren't damaged at all,'' she added.