A FREAK hailstorm caught Easter bank holiday revellers unawares in Blaenavon at the weekend.

Hailstones over 13mm big rained down a "torrent of ice" on Saturday for around half an hour in the late afternoon.

4 Lower Glan, Torvaen Terrace, resident, Phillip Davies said: "Late Saturday afternoon a horrendous thunder bolt exploded directly over our terraces in Blaenavon, our house was violently shaken to its foundations.

"The bolt unleashed a terrifying hail storm with stones over 13mm.

"The freak conditions turned our lane in to a torrent of ice in less than two minutes.

"My wife said she pitied anyone out walking as the force would knock a person off their feet."

Traffic through the town was brought to a complete standstill as visibility was severely reduced.

Some residents reported damaged electrical equipment and power cuts.

The storm stopped as suddenly as it had begun, and within 20 minutes the sky was clear blue and cloudless again.

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre customer services assistant, Angela Lewis said: "It was dreadful, like a foot of snow had fallen.

"Before that it was really warm and afterwards the sun came back out.

"I've never seen anything like it."