Updated: 7:46am — A “mini tornado” has ripped through a small town north of New Plymouth this morning.

Police and the Fire Service were called to Urenui about 1.13am, Police Shift Inspector Marty Parker said.

Fences and trees were damaged as well as iron roofing on a building.

“The mini tornado did a little bit of damage this morning,” Mr Parker said.

Urenui Bay Motel owner Kerri Hulbert said the motel hadn’t suffered any damage but the Urenui Service Station opposite them had.

The whole front of the building had suffered and parts of the roof had been pulled off, she said.

“We heard the winds though, they scared the jeepers out of us,” Ms Hulbert said.

“It was just horrible.”

Urenui garage after the wild weather that hit north Taranaki last night and this morning / Taranaki Regional Council on Twitter.

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– NZME. & WeatherWatch.co.nz