by Martin Jefferies

Severe thunderstorms in Thanet kept firefighters busy last night.

Crews from across the Isle were called out at least a dozen times as lightning struck several properties.

Their most serious call came from a home in Park Avenue, Birchington, where a bolt struck at around 10pm, setting fire to the loft.

Around 12 firefighters from Thanet (Westwood) and Herne Bay spent around three hours tackling the blaze, which also spread to a neighbouring property. No-one was injured.

Margate fire station responded to eight emergency calls in just an hour and a half, including a block of flats in Sea Road, Westgate-on-Sea, which was struck by lightning at around 12.30am.

The building was not set alight, although its fire alarm system was damaged. No residents were hurt.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the majority of its other calls were from automatic fire alarm systems that were affected by the storm.

Some parts of Thanet suffered minor localised flooding and the power supply was momentarily affected, causing street lights on the Haine Road and Manston Road to fail.