Lightning storm shocks Gazette residents

Residents across Littlehampton, Rustington, Angmering, Arundel and East Preston were woken as loud claps of thunder exploded above them, at about 4.45am.

Tom Waller, 14, of Arundel, said the power of the thunder managed to damage the window in his 12-year-old sister’s bedroom.

Tom, a student at Seaford College, said: “The thunder and lightning was crazy. It was really loud.

“It made the TV go all weird and damaged my sister’s window.”

He explained that the damaged window started letting water into her bedroom as heavy rain started to fall.

In nearby Climping, homeowners said it was like a ‘bomb going off’.

Sylvana Cotterill, of Appletree Walk, was woken by the storm.

The retired 62-year-old said: “The thunder was probably the loudest I have ever heard.

“It literally shock the house. It was so powerful it set off the alarm in the house.”

She added: “I’m normally a heavy sleeper but this woke me and my husband, Steve, up.”

Last night’s storm also saw a lightning bolt cause a signalling problem at Angmering.

Southern Rail said the signalling was causing delays of up to 20 minutes today to trains between Barnham, Littlehampton and Worthing.

Delays have also been reported on the line between Portsmouth Harbour and Chichester.