Sussex battered by second night of thunderstorms

Some 36,000 lightning strikes hit the UK over the course of 12 hours, with the Met Office issuing a second yellow weather warning in as many days due to thunderstorms.

Leah Parkes captured some of the lightning as it streaked across the sky in Woodingdean, while fire crews were called to Littlehampton after a house was struck by lightning during the storm.

Firefighters from West Sussex Fire and Rescue were called to The Estuary just after 10.30pm last night, with four fire engines from Littlehampton, East Preston and Worthing attending the incident.

A firefighter on the roof of a property in Littlehampton after it was struck by lightning last night

Thermal imaging cameras, jets and hose reels were used on a house to investigate the source of smoke coming from the property and to dampen down the area.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “At 10.37pm last night, September 5, we were called to a house that had been struck by lightning at The Estuary, Littlehampton.

“Joint fire control sent four fire engines from Littlehampton, East Preston and Worthing to the scene, as well as an aerial ladder platform from Worthing.

“Upon arrival, crews found smoke in the loft compartment and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels, jets and thermal imaging cameras to investigate the source of the smoke and dampen down the area.

“Crews left the scene at around 1.15am and no casualties were involved.”

A bolt of lightning was caught on camera near Brighton Marina on Sunday night - credit: Steve SVC (Image: Steve SVC)

The incident came a day after a trampoline got thrown into the air and got wedged between two properties and after a bolt of lightning was spotted close to Brighton Marina.

More storms are forecast over the next few days across Sussex, bringing an abrupt end to the summer, with a return to more settled conditions not expected until the weekend.