Friends and neighbours have told today of scenes reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, following a lightning strike which left two people being treated for their injuries in hospital.
A home in Brasenose Avenue, Gorleston, was hit during a large storm at about 4.15pm yesterday.
The building was left severely damaged, with the front window smashed and roof tiles shattered.
The pair, believed to be a mother and son, were taken to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston. A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said: 'It was believed to be a lightning strike.'
Neighbours gathered in the street outside after they were evacuated from their homes by the emergency services.
Ian and Ann Brown, who live five doors down from the home that was hit, were in the kitchen with their son when the lightning struck.
Mr Brown, 56, said: 'The room lit up white and there was one massive explosion. It was like nothing I've heard before.'
Mrs Brown, 52, said: 'We were really scared. The three of us were huddled up together. I just can't stop shaking. It was the noise – it was so loud, it really did hurt your ears. It was too close for comfort. I just keeping thinking what could have happened.'
Emma Leggett, 56, who lives across from the home in Brasenose Avenue, said her 17-year-old son was driving just metres away when the lightning struck. She said: 'He is too shaken up to talk. He saw all the tiles coming off and said it was like something from the film Twister.
'A policeman said he was very lucky because if the tiles had hit his car, he could have lost control of it.'
Allison Sexton, 16, said she saw the lightning hit the roof of the house from her bedroom window.
'The lightning hit the roof and it went bang. There was one big flash. Then all the electricity went out.'
A spokesman for UK Power Networks said supplies were interrupted to several hundred homes due to a fault on a high voltage network.
Power was reconnected within one minute after the supply was re-routed. Dozens of homes were without access to the internet into yesterday evening.
Jane Brooks, 53, described the terrifying moment her television exploded and she looked out of her window and saw a plume of smoke.
She said: 'The TV just went bang. I stood up and glanced across the road. I could see smoke coming out of the chimney and it was like a tan colour.
'The roof tiles were disintegrated and I just got hold of my mobile phone and dialled 999. I was so shaken up I never seen anything like it.'
Christine Payne, 50, who lives three doors down, said she heard glass breaking and came outside because she thought it was her window.
'I have never heard thunder that loud before in my life. I saw two men went inside the house to see if everyone was ok. Everyone who lives round here looks out for each other.'
Did you witness the lightning strike? Email george.ryan@archant.co.uk
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