Lightning which struck a house triggered an electrical surge so powerful it sent a neighbour’s phone flying from her hand.

Vicky Lewis heard a deafening crack and suffered an electrical shock when the bolt punched a hole through her neighbour’s roof in Folkestone last night.

The single strike at 9.30pm, which sounded like “an explosion”, sent roofing tiles flying to the ground and triggered a rapid emergency service response.

Explaining how she believed her own house had been hit, Miss Lewis said: “It did sound like an explosion and it was so loud, I was expecting to see flames coming from my roof.

“My little boy who’s seven was terrified and shaking like a leaf.

“I was in bed on my phone which was on charge, all of a sudden I had an electric shock, the phone went flying out my hand and my hand is still a bit sore.”

Nobody was seriously injured but some homes are still without power, it is understood.

Minutes after the strike two fire engines arrived at the property, where a hole was visible and tiles had been thrown to the ground.

Neighbour Michelle Large said the ordeal brought back memories of when the town was shaken by The Kent Earthquake, recorded as 4.3 on the Richter scale.

The 69-year-old said: “There was no warning, no thunder, no storm, it was just like an explosion, everybody looked dazed and shocked and a few minutes later we heard the sirens.

“It was louder than the earthquake that we had and I remember that well – it was very scary when you don’t know what it is.

“There is a substation nearby so I thought it could have been that.”

On Saturday, April 28, 2007 just before 8.20am, Folkestone and the surrounding villages were the main areas affected by a quake, its tremors were also felt in Dover and Ashford areas.

The epicentre was believed to be less than 1km east of Folkestone.

Colin Bugin, 73, was watching the football with his wife when he lost power seconds before hearing a “terrific bang” last night.

“It was so sudden. Normally you get the flash before the bang but it was just all at once.” he said.

“It was an incredible sound, I've never heard anything like it before.

“I'm impressed with how the neighbours came to look out for each other.”

The flash was seen across the town and the bang heard as far away as Dover.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were called to a house struck by lightning on Hollands Avenue, Folkestone.

“Two fire engines attended, and crews made the roof safe with the removal of loose tiles and use of a salvage sheet to cover the hole in the roof.

“There were no reported injuries.”

When the earthquake hit in 2007, areas around Blackbull Road and Canterbury Road were said to be the worst affected by fallen debris.

Many chimney pots crumbled, while others collapsed and smashed to pieces on the floor.

The windows of parked cars were smashed in some places but despite such an unexpected act of nature, there were no injuries reported.

The Salvation Army set up a refuge in Canterbury Road for those evacuated from their homes.

About 65,000 homes and businesses were hit by a power cut in an area between Dover and Hythe.

There were also reports of scores of gas leaks.