A SUDDEN storm led to a dog show being abandoned during the waggiest tail competition.

Dog owners and visitors had to hold down gazebos and equipment during 20 minutes of high winds and heavy rain at the RSPCA novelty dog show in Broomhall, near Worcester on Saturday.

The weather was so severe a new catering tent was left in tatters but the winds stopped as suddenly as they had begun.

Geraldine Haynes, a trustee of the RSPCA Worcester and Mid Worcestershire branch, said: "It was all going really well, everyone was enjoying themselves and there were lots of dogs entering the dog show classes.

"We got halfway through the 14 dog classes when all of a sudden this terrible wind came up at about 1.30pm.

"It was all we could do to hang on to the gazebos and stop them all taking off.

"It was like a mini hurricane.

"Lots of people helped us to hang on to everything.

"It was a bit scary for a while. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

"The wind was so strong it got underneath the catering tent and it all took off. The sides were ripped and the bars were buckled. It's ruined."

The event had been arranged at the site of the branch's planned animal rescue and rehoming centre at The Holdings, Holdings Lane.

Mrs Haynes said: "The storm was very localised because people who didn't live too far away didn't have it at all.

"The sun came back out but we wanted to let people know if they turned up in the afternoon that we hadn't just finished early.

"We also want to thank people who helped us to hang on to stuff and helped us clear up."

Despite the premature end to the show, around 300 people attended and the event raised around £1,800 to help build the new animal centre.

Mrs Haynes said between 10.30am and 1.30pm, 100 bricks had been sold as part of a Buy-a-Brick scheme to help fund the centre.

Anyone interested in buying a brick can still do so by visiting rspca-worcester.co.uk or by contacting Mrs Haynes on 01886 822083.