Monday, 2pm - FIREFIGHTERS were forced to break into a house in Harlaxton yesterday, after lightning struck through the roof causing plumes of smoke to billow out.
Lightning hit the house in the High Street yesterday evening, which knocked out power to a number of properties nearby.
A neighbour dialled 999, fearing a fire would spread and somebody could be hurt, but luckily no-one was home.
Neighbour Malcolm Edwards was eating supper with his wife in his conservatory when he saw a huge flash of light.
He said: "I saw the electric storm come across and there was a tremendous flash of lightning that hit the cottage.
"I felt a tremendous vibration and I could just see a ball of smoke coming up."
Apart from the broken roof tiles (see our pictures), there was no other damage.
Neighbours in Harlaxton have reported some power loss and loss of internet connections.
The thunderbolt was heard by Journal readers all over the Grantham area.
Journal editor Tim Robinson was outside in High Street, Harlaxton, getting into a car just 100 yards away when the lightning struck the house.
"There was a massive crashing sound which shook the ground and an almighty flash," he said.
"There was a feeling of electricity in the air and it made the hair on the backs of my hands stand on end."
* Was your home hit during yesterday's storm? Did you catch the flashes on camera? Click here to tell us about it.Find out how lightning works
by clicking here.
Click back on our home page for up-to-the-minute weather forecasts.
The full article contains 274 words and appears in Grantham Journal newspaper.