Thunder storms cause disruption across the region

Power has been restored to more than 36,000 homes after lightning strikes caused a massive powercut.

The lightning, which struck parts of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Teesside, caused power cuts for around 38,000 customers.

Engineers from Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for running the power network across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, said they have now restored power to more than 36,500 customers.

Northern Powergrid’s helicopter has carried out patrols to help spot any damage and its front line staff are carrying out emergency repairs to the damage caused by the lightning.

Northern Powergrid says ten thousand customers are still without electricity following power cuts across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Teesside.

During the night a total of 38,000 properties experiences power cuts, caused by thunder storms and lightning.

Supplies have now been restored to 28,000 of them.

A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid, the company that deals with the distribution of electricity to homes across the region, said that engineers were working to restore supplies to those still without.

If you want to find out more about the power cuts where you live you can use a smart phone to go to the company's website and check out their Power Cuts Map.

You can also find out more on social media, or by calling their new three-digit phone number 105.

There are delays on First Transpennine Express between Newcastle and Durham due to lightning damage to the signalling. Train services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed.

Also, there are delays of up to 15 minutes on CrossCountry between Newcastle and Durham. Services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed.

Virgin Trains East Coast have also been affected.

Thunder and lightning kept people across the region up last night. Many homes are without power this morning in the County Durham and Northumberland areas.

There are delays on Virgin Trains East Coast at Newcastle due to lightning damage to the signalling. Virgin Trains say services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed.