The storms were so intense that half-a-metre-high piles of hailstones formed in some places.

Intense storms in southern and western Germany saw hailstones pile up to half a metre high.

So much hail fell in the village of Weiler, in Bavaria, over such a short period of time that some roads were entirely blocked with ice.

Many streets, squares and even gardens were briefly transformed into winter landscapes by the heavy hailstorms.

Trees were uprooted and the fire brigade had to go out to pump out flooded cellars during the storms.