Stunned Scots picture 'tornado' above the Lothians as Storm Aiden struck on Halloween night

The rare sight of the weather phenomenon was captured in Midlothian and East Lothian as Storm Aiden struck the UK on Saturday night.

The black clouds in the sky above the town of Dalkeith and the village of Ormiston appear to show a rapidly rotating column of air that is associated with a tornado.

But social media users have been debating whether the images show a tornado or a cloud funnel.

The Met Office describes funnel clouds - or ‘tuba’ - as “extending, spinning fingers” of cloud that reach towards, but does not actually touch, the ground.

Leigh Mills said: “I took this picture in Ormiston tonight. Do you think it is a tornado?”

Pilar Scorza said: “Wow - we actually had a tornado.”

But Angela O’Reilly replied: “It’s a funnel cloud I believe.”

There are an estimated 30-35 tornados spotted in the UK each year.

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