Many Prestonians were diverted from their night watching TV by the sound of an explosion across parts of the city.

An intense storm hit the city during Thursday (25 January) evening seeing torrential downpours during a thunderstorm.

The ‘loud bang’ heard predominantly across Ashton-on-Ribble was due to a lightning strike to a telephone wire.

Emergency services were called to Sheffield Drive in Lea shortly after 7pm.

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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called out by Preston Police at 7.09pm to the sign.

Two crews, from Preston and Fulwood, attended the scene and found no fire to put out but were shown by a householder where a burning smell had come from and the damage caused.

No one was hurt in the incident.