Heavy storms proved the perfect opportunity for amateur photographers across the region to reach for their cameras.

The lightning on Saturday night inspired dozens of readers to send in their images as the skies lit up in a dazzling display.

Dan Holley, a meteorologist at UEA-based Weatherquest, said: 'The fading light could have made the lightning stand out more.

'Plus it was a very electrical storm, probably more so than your average British thunderstorm.'

The storms caused minor damage across the region, with trees hit by lightning and minor flooding.

The flooding caused 'medium' delays in both directions at the A47 junction.

A police spokesman said some trees had fallen over in the storm, and there were reports of floods.

Crews of firefighters from Mundesley, Gt Yarmouth, Gorleston, Cromer and Sheringham attended a property struck by lightening in Mundsley.

They were called to Watson Watt Gardens at 6.55pm, where crews used a thermal image camera.

The fire service offered advice to people who phoned about flooding caused by the heavy downpour, and went to Costessey to assess the situation.

A spokesman said they had pumped water from one property in Norwich as a precautionary measure.

Mr Holley said: 'A few thunderstorms developed initially over the Fens and north Cambridgeshire during the afternoon on Saturday, and then drifted slowly northeastwards across Norfolk, while intensifying and expanding in coverage.

'Many parts of Norfolk, particularly north of the A47, saw thunderstorms early on Saturday evening, producing a lot of lightning and hail in places, and because they were slow moving some local flooding also occurred from the prolonged downpours.'

The storm also complicated police efforts to capture three cows which escaped near the A140 Ipswich Road in Norwich, forcing the closure of the road for more than seven hours.

A cattle owner who helped police warned the thunder, lightning and rain could have 'stirred up' the cows, making them more difficult to capture.

Were you affected by the weekend storms or flooding? Do you have pictures of the lightning? Email polly.grice@archant.co.uk