Electrical storms caused widespread disruption across the South East and left more than 30,000 homes without power this morning.

Power firm Seeboard estimated that 31,000 homes were cut off during the night when Kent, Sussex and Surrey were hit by the spectacular storms.

Seeboard spokeswoman Claire Byrd said it was one of the worst storms she had known in the area.

Two large storms swept across the region between 9.30pm and 3am.

She said: "We have had emergency teams working throughout the night as this was a very severe storm.

"We estimate that we have restored power to 11,000 homes but around 20,000 are still without electricity."

One Sussex man had to be taken to hospital when lightning struck his home and knocked out the power to his kidney dialysis machine.

Firefighters put out a small fire in the fusebox at the home in Chailey court, Franklynn Road, Haywards Heath.