Fire crews in Thanet were inundated with 999 calls as heavy storms battered the area overnight.

One home in Nelson Place, Broadstairs, was struck by lightning at around 4am, starting a small fire in the roof.

Two pumps from Margate were called to the scene and were able to contain the fire to the roof.

Another house in Kings Avenue, Birchington, was also struck in the early hours of the morning.

The blaze was again contained to the loft and was quickly put out by firefighters.

The Thanet area was severely affected by flooding, with a number of roads and properties hit.

In Ramsgate, fire crews spent around two hours pumping water from the Royal Oak hotel on Harbour Parade.

Minor flooding was reported by several other bars and restaurants in Harbour Street in the town, while the emergency services were called to a number of incidents in Minnis Bay.

Stretches of the A256 were badly affected, with a mudslide at the bottom of Chalk Hill coupled with flooding between Ebbsfleet and Richborough affecting traffic in both directions.

In Margate, Nash Road was closed, while Shottendane Road was described by one caller to kmfm as being “like a mud bath”.

The storm also caused power cuts at St Nicholas-at-Wade from around 2am to 8am and Monkton.