LIGHTNING strikes damaged three Oxfordshire houses this morning, the fire service has said.

Storms hit late last night, with forked lightning bolts reported across the county.

Firefighters were called after one Oxford home was struck by a lightning bolt. 

A crew from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Canning Crescent, off Abingdon Road, at 1.59am.

A spokeswoman said: “This was a two-storey, end terrace, domestic property. There was lightning strike damage to the eave of the roof.

“Salvage work was carried out by the fire service.”

There was a fire at Lime Trees, off Town End, Chilton, near Didcot.

Fire crews were called at 12.16am. 

A spokeswoman said: “This was a fire in the bedroom of a detached property.

"Breathing apparatus, two hose reels, thermal imaging camera was in use.”

A fire also broke out at a workshop in Gatehampton Farm near Goring and fire crews were called out at 12.31am.

A spokeswoman said: “The fire was caused by a lightning strike. The fire service used two hose reels.”

No one was reported injured in any of the fires.

See our readers' pictures of lightning bolts here. 

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