Birmingham has been named the UK's 'tornado alley' by experts who claim conditions in the West Midlands are ripe for twisters.

Studies by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) show that Birmingham's inland geography leave it especially prone to summer storms similar to those that savage the east coast of the USA.

The thundery weather that develops into tornados tends to sweep up from the Bristol Channel and into the Midlands, the research from Torro shows.

The group, which held a conference in Birmingham at the weekend, also said that over the last 25 years the West Midlands had reported the third-highest number of tornados of anywhere in the UK.

Some people who were affected by last July's tornado are still living in temporary accommodation. More than 1,000 buildings were badly damaged in Kings Heath, Moseley, Sparkbrook and Sparkhill.

Another tornado struck Birmingham on October 12, although it caused far less damage than July's twister.

However, PA WeatherCentre expert Paul Knightley, who spoke at Saturday's conference, said there was no need for people in Birmingham to fear another twister.

He said: "There are probably many tornados that are in the rural areas of the Midlands, but because one hits Birmingham it affects more people and gets reported.

"I do not think the West Midlands is anything like the USA in a weather respect.

"People should consider themselves very unlucky to be caught up in a tornado."