Homes flooded in East Sussex after heavy rain

Heavy rain has caused flooding in some parts of the South East, with eight houses reported to be under water in Heathfield.

Photos of one of the properties in Wren Close show filthy water coming in from the outside.

The owner, Terry Arnold told ITV Meridian that a blocked culvert nearby is to blame. He said it was reported two weeks ago but nothing had been done. 

Jenny Montgomery says she's lived at her property in Heathfield for 27 years and has never experienced flooding like it before.

She says the water almost came into the second floor of her property and described the aftermath as "devastation".

• Jenny Montgomery, resident:

Meanwhile a number of roads in Crowborough have also been affected. East Sussex Fire and Rescue said they had been called by several people following flooding incidents.

Meanwhile, a 70-year-old woman escaped unharmed after a lightning strike "severely damaged" two houses in Hampshire early on Saturday morning

The roofs of the semi-detached houses in Mercia Avenue, Andover, collapsed and smoke was pictured coming from the top of the building.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters were called to the property at 4.37am when the roof caught fire after the lightning strike.

A 70-year-old woman was assessed by paramedics at the scene and was not taken to hospital.

There were also animals in the properties at the time of the incident, the fire service said.

Neighbour Barrie Austen, 79, described what happened: “There was this enormous bang, it was obviously the lightning, I think it woke the rest of the street up.

“I saw the flickering and when I looked out I saw the roof of the semi-detached house completely ablaze and it had completely gone.

The incident comes as the Met Office issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for the south of the UK this weekend, putting an end to the heatwave.

The warnings are in place until midnight on Sunday.

The weather service warned of "frequent lightning, possible large hail and gusty winds as well as torrential rainfall for some", which could cause flooding.

It said some places could see 30 to 50mm of rainfall within an hour or two.