Poland hit by 'freak' tornadoes

At least one person has been killed and another 10 injured after a freak wave of summer tornadoes struck the north and west of Poland.

The extreme winds hits the country's Kujawy-Pomorze and Wielkopolska provinces, destroying 100 homes.

Bory Tucholskie forest, a national park and popular tourist destination, and surrounding villages were badly hit by a twister that was between 800m and 1,000m wide, local media reported.

More than 400 hectares of woodland were flattened in the area, authorities said, and over 100 houses wrecked.

Electricity power-lines have also been damaged.

According to local media reports, a 60-year-old man who was killed died in the village of Wycinki after being crushed beneath his collapsing house.

Residents have described hearing a terrifying rumble as the tornado approached.

A vast clean-up operation is now under way as people hastily cover up their roofs, fallen trees are removed and power lines are repaired.