Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Fire crews reported one of their busiest nights in recent memory as the area was hit by violent thunder storms.

One Reading crew said they received 12 call outs to emergencies over night and another said there had been seven house fires across the county.

All four of Reading's fire stations plus Wokingham, Bracknell and Newbury worked through the night dealing with incidents and an aerial platform was also brought in from Basingstoke.

Crews were called to house fire in Rushmoor Gardens, in Calcot, which was believed to be caused by a lightning strike.

Flames were starting to come through the roof when firefighters arrived at about 4.45am.

Three fire engines and an aerial appliance from Basingstoke were sent to the blaze

Crew manager Matt Clark, from Dee Road station, said one one of the occupants had woken up smelling smoke and the family had got out of the house before the brigade arrived.

Fire crews had to remove tiles to tackle the blaze and the roof was 40 per cent damaged, mostly in the loft space.

Crews were on the scene until about 7am.

Earlier in the night firefighters attended a house fire believed to be caused by a lightning strike in Cholmeley Road, New Town, East Reading, at about 11.30pm.

The male occupant was outside the property when crews arrived and they were on the scene for about 90 minutes.

Flames were seen coming through the roof of a house in Ward Close, Wokingham, at about midnight.

The property was already damaged by water because the water tanks had burst and the roof was also badly damaged. The occupants were away on holiday.

Firefighters were also called to a swimming pool water pump on fire in Beechwood Avenue, Woodley, at about 1.30am.

The blaze caused some damage to the property and crews were on the scene for about 90 minutes.

There were also reports of power cuts affecting parts of Wokingham, Theale and Calcot last night.