A family of four was left homeless today after lightning struck their home as thunderstorms swept across Suffolk and Essex.

Weather forecasters said it would be another hot and humid day with temperatrues reaching around 26C in Ipswich, slightly cooler than yesterday.

Organisers of the many events across the county – including Latitude, Sax Music Fest and Framlingham Horse Show – were preparing for more thunderstorms with a weather front moving up from France.

People are warned to expect squally winds and heavy downpours of rain and hail, with the possibility of some flash flooding.

In between the rain, there will be lengthy periods of sunshine.

Essex firefighters were called to Keswick Avenue, Holland on Sea, after lightning struck two semi-detached bungalows around 4.30am.

Crews from Clacton and Weeley attended. The roof of one of the properties was alight and the roof space of the second property heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels to tackle the blaze.

The incident was dealt with by 6.40am.

Two crews from Clacton also attended an incident believed to have been triggered by lightning strike at the garage of a property in Clacton Road, Elmstead.

The incident happened at 6.08am. Crews worked quickly to douse flames and prevent the blaze spreading to a house attached to the garage. The fire was out by 7.am.