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| West Bromwich church and houses hit by lightning in storm | West Bromwich church and houses hit by lightning in storm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A heavy storm has battered the West Midlands, with at least three houses and a church struck by lightning and trees uprooted. | |
| Lightning cracked a stained glass window ledge at St Michael and Holy Angels church in West Bromwich at 15:00 GMT, West Midlands Fire Service said. | Lightning cracked a stained glass window ledge at St Michael and Holy Angels church in West Bromwich at 15:00 GMT, West Midlands Fire Service said. |
| A spokesman said the charge went through a tree leaning against the window and set floorboards alight. | A spokesman said the charge went through a tree leaning against the window and set floorboards alight. |
| Bolts also struck houses in Wollescote, Stirchley and Northfield. | Bolts also struck houses in Wollescote, Stirchley and Northfield. |
| Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue said it had received about 10 reports of trees falling over because of the weather. | Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue said it had received about 10 reports of trees falling over because of the weather. |
| There were also reports of roof slates being dislodged and car windows being smashed in Galley Common, near Nuneaton in Warwickshire. | There were also reports of roof slates being dislodged and car windows being smashed in Galley Common, near Nuneaton in Warwickshire. |
| Overhead power lines | Overhead power lines |
| Four fire crews were called to Oakfield Road in Wollescote at about 15:00 GMT after lightning hit a roof, causing a fire at two houses. One woman had to be treated after inhaling smoke. | Four fire crews were called to Oakfield Road in Wollescote at about 15:00 GMT after lightning hit a roof, causing a fire at two houses. One woman had to be treated after inhaling smoke. |
| A bolt hit a house in Newlands Road in Stirchley around the same time, setting curtains on fire in a ground floor lounge. | A bolt hit a house in Newlands Road in Stirchley around the same time, setting curtains on fire in a ground floor lounge. |
| Another lightning bolt hit a television aerial above a house in Fancott Road in Northfield, causing damage to wiring. | Another lightning bolt hit a television aerial above a house in Fancott Road in Northfield, causing damage to wiring. |
| The fire service also said a 40ft conifer tree had been uprooted in Stoneleigh Road, Birmingham. | The fire service also said a 40ft conifer tree had been uprooted in Stoneleigh Road, Birmingham. |
| Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue said they were called just after 15:00 to reports of trees that had blown on to overhead power lines in Suckley near Worcester. | Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue said they were called just after 15:00 to reports of trees that had blown on to overhead power lines in Suckley near Worcester. |
| A spokesman said an 11,000 volt electricity pole was also blown over close to a garden in Offenham. | A spokesman said an 11,000 volt electricity pole was also blown over close to a garden in Offenham. |