Family of four left homeless by one of three lightning strikes in Essex

A family of four has been left homeless after their house was struck by lightning during the storms overnight.

It was one of three strikes at properties in Essex as the region was battered by heavy rain and thunder.

The family's home at Keswick Avenue at Holland on Sea was hit at about 4.25am Saturday. It sparked a fire in two semi-detached bungalows.

Firefighters spent more than two hours tackling the blaze.

Earlier, three crews were called to a house at Murrell Lock, Chelmsford, where smoke had been seen pouring from the roof following another lightning strike.

It happened at about 10.45pm on Friday and spread from the roof to the first floor.

No one was hurt but crews remained on the site until just after 5am on Saturday.

And at just after 6am, Essex fire service was called to a third fire in a garage at Clacton Road in Elmstead, near Colchester, which was also thought to have been started by a lightning strike.

Firefighters worked quickly to stop the blaze spreading to the house attached to the garage.