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Homes evacuated as lightning strikes cause disruption

Ben CarrEast Midlands
Watch: Loud bang heard as lightning hits area and forces evacuation of homes

Several homes had to be evacuated after two properties in different parts of Leicestershire were struck by lightning, causing fires.

Crews were called to a blaze in the roof of a bungalow in Orchard Close in Witherley, near Atherstone, at about 03:45 BST on Thursday after a direct hit by lightning.

Later, at 04:57, crews were called to a fire in the roof of a house in Bayswater Road, Melton, after reports it has been hit during a thunderstorm.

No injuries were reported at either location.

News imageBBC Weather Watchers/Pete_Codes A lightning strike lights up the night sky, which looks purple against the bright lightning.BBC Weather Watchers/Pete_Codes
A number of residents were woken up by the lightning in Leicestershire - as this BBC Weather Watchers photograph shows

In Witherley, firefighters used a ladder to access the roof space to tackle the fire but "due to the intensity of the flames bursting through the roof, crews had to be withdrawn", Nuneaton Fire Station said.

Personnel from Nuneaton, Polesworth and Leicestershire worked to prevent the fire spreading to the adjacent bungalow.

News imageNuneaton Fire Station A bungalow with a gutted roof near the chimney following a roof fire. The backs of two heads are visible in the foreground and firefighters are standing near a tree Nuneaton Fire Station
Crews were called to Witherley in the early hours of the morning

Meanwhile, crews from Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Billesdon and Central Fire Station all attended the blaze in Melton, with support from fire services in Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had now been extinguished.

Fire crews, a building inspector, and staff from National Grid remain in attendance at the scene.

BBC reporter at the scene: "Lightning strike was like a bomb going off"

Many other parts of the country saw overnight thunder and lightning, which followed record-breaking temperatures for this time of year.

In Yorkshire, Transpennine Express said a lightning strike had damaged a signalling system and caused a fault.

A suspected lightning strike has also caused disruption on the West Coast Main Line near Runcorn, Network Rail said.

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