Lightning bolt strikes Ipswich Hospital as dramatic thunderstorm rages through town

A lightning bolt struck the hospital's maternity building

A lightning strike hit Ipswich Hospital earlier this evening as dramatic storms raged across the county.

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Close You currently have JavaScript disabled, functionality will be limited Storms across Suffolk, April 12 A double rainbow seen from Jo Andrews' garden in Saxmundham Storm clouds over Shotley, looking towards Ipswich, by Jason Hemingway A storm transforms the skies in the Suffolk countryside A storm transforms the skies in the Suffolk countryside A storm transforms the skies in the Suffolk countryside A storm transforms the skies in the Suffolk countryside A stormy view of Ipswich's Waterfront by Mark Dobrzanski







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The storms, which came on the warmest day of the year – a temperature of 18.1C (64.58F) was seen on the mercury in Writtle – caused “chaos” at the hospital, which experienced power failures across some of its departments as the strike hit the maternity building.

Nick Hulme, chief executive of the hospital, said: “A massive clap of thunder and lightning struck the building at around 4.30pm today. We were all safe, but we experienced a bit of disruption for a while.

“It was a bit crazy for a while but no patients were at risk. There was some flooding and quite a few of our computers were damaged.

“We have our estates team in and they will be working all night to try to rectify the damage done. It’s nothing we can’t cope with but there were several fire engines called.”

The thunderstorms, which are the second in just a week, also caused travel chaos in the county.

The Street in Rushmere, near Lowestoft, was blocked around the Tinkers Lane junction yesterday due to flooding caused by downpours. Weatherquest forecast between five and 10mm of rain, but the road had cleared by 7pm.

Forecaster Dan Holley tweeted: “Good amount of small hail in the thunderstorm that passed near Ipswich a short while ago.”

Reader Jo Andrews, from Saxmundham, sent this newspaper a shot of a “beautiful” double rainbow which could be seen from her garden, while Ipswich man Mark Dobrzanski took a selection of dramatic photographs on the way home from work.

Did you see the storms? Send your pictures and videos to newsroom@archant.co.uk.