August turns white in freak storm

Braving the elements on the North Yorkshire Moors

Homes and businesses were hit by freak storms which caused up to five inches of hail, torrential rain, lightning and even a tornado.

The abnormal weather affected parts of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Wales.

In the area between York and Hull at least 60 properties were flooded, closing businesses. Lightning disrupted rail services.

Children make the most of what looks like early snow

A tornado was also reported off the Humber Estuary. Coastguards said no-one had been injured, but the tornado sucked water up to form a spectacular water spout.

Humberside Fire Service received more than 80 calls from the village of Hedon, east of Hull, and snow was reported in several parts of Humberside and North Yorkshire.

In Wales, homes and businsses were flooded, two bridges collapsed and some people were trapped in their homes.

Lincolnshire fire service received more than 100 calls from people affected by flooding.

Torrential rain caused flash floods along the county's coast, especially in Sutton-on-sea, Trusthorpe and Mablethorpe.

Lightning on railway

Train services in and out of York rail station were disrupted after it was struck by lightning four times in a few minutes.

The strikes just before 0900BST caused a power surge which knocked out systems controlling signalling and track circuits.

It was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like this before

Sub officer Ian Daddy

A Railtrack spokesman said: "It was an amazing storm - I've never witnessed anything like it - there was ice all over the ground.

"The lightning hit the north and south of the station, and unfortunately it stopped everything."

A house in York was also struck by lightning. A fire service spokesman said the roof was set on fire but no-one was injured.

'Horrendous'

A fire service spokesman said the village of Hedon near Hull had four or five inches of hail.

"The weather conditions have been horrendous," he said.

Those affected said they had never seen anything like it

Sub officer Ian Daddy said: "It's weird. There's snow in some parts of the village and flooding in other parts.

"The downpour lasted just over an hour and it was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like this before."

Eight fire engines were called to village and started pumping the water from the flooded streets. No residents were evacuated.

John Plater from Hedon Post Office said: "I have never seen anything like it.

"There is about eight inches of hail banked up by the side of the shops - the hailstones were huge.

"We've had customers in their 80s saying they've never witnessed summer weather like this in their lives."

BBC weather forecaster Helen Young said although the storms might have looked as if they were snow, they were technically hail storms.