A tornado has been spotted over Hartlepool just days after another one was seen sweeping across the British countryside.

Shocked residents shared the unusual weather phenomenon on Twitter after they saw the twister form during heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Responding to a picture of the tornado The Met Office tweeted: “Looks like thunderstorms have produced funnel clouds. This photo was taken over Hartlepool recently.”

The unusual weather formation – more commonly spotted in areas of North America – is the latest in a long line of weird weather this spring.

Shocking footage showed it moving across fields and roads, sucking up debris as it tore through the countryside on Wednesday.

@HPoolMail @metoffice @EveningChron Hartlepool Twister 22/5 12.10 pic.twitter.com/Xki4Sb8nmV

— Ian Britton (@ianbritton) May 22, 2016

It comes just days after another tornado was seen stretching hundreds of metres in the air above Lincolnshire.

Weather reports predict thunderstorms across the UK this afternoon with heavy downpours.

Tornado sightings may become more frequent according to scientists, who claim London and Reading have a 6% chance of being hit this summer, while Bristol, Birmingham and Ipswich have a 3% chance.

Although Britain is hit by about 34 twisters every year, the worst to hit the UK was in Birmingham in 2005, when 19 people were injured and £140million worth of damages were caused.

The following year, a twister racked up a £10million bill of destruction when it swept through Kensal Green.