A neighbour has spoken of their terror at seeing the roof of a family's home go up in flames after being struck by lightning.

The blaze ripped through the roof and loft space of two adjoining properties in Abbey Drive, Dartford during a thunderstorm.

Three fire engines attended the cul-de-sac on the Bexley Park estate and crews doused the flames using hose reels and main jets.

It happened shortly after 10pm on Saturday as the weather turned across the county.

It was reported one home had to be evacuated and power – which was cut to some properties – was not restored until the following day.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, spoke of their fears after being asked to leave their house while crews tackled the fire which took more than two hours to bring under control.

"There was a lightning bolt that struck my neighbour's house," she explained. "That's where the fire started it then spread across the roof and damaged a part of the adjoining loft.

"It took 10 minutes for the firemen to come to the property.

"There was just smoke to start with and then the flames started to come across the right side of the roof."

She added: "It is terrifying but that is what happens when there is a fire. We have compassion for our neighbours – it is a lot of sensations you get."

Pictures show the aftermath of the blaze which tore two large holes through the roof of the end-of-terrace house and a loft space from an adjoining property.

No injuries were reported and the incident was declared at a stop shortly before 1am on Sunday morning.

The neighbour also reported fire crews being delayed due to problems accessing water hydrants. But Kent Fire And Rescue Rescue service said there were no issues on the night.

"There was just smoke to start with and then the flames started to come across the right side of the roof."

"It has been reported that the firemen had an issue on Abbey Drive with the water hydrants," she added.

"It seems like the water supply was not enough for the firefighters to do their jobs properly on the spot. They had to try to connect the hydrants on the street behind us which delayed their work."

She added: "If the hydrants are meant to be serviced, why has that not been done?"

It has led some neighbours to file a complaint over defunct hydrants but the fire service has since re-attended and ruled out any problems.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said "There were no issues with the water supply for firefighting purposes found at this incident, or with the fire hydrants that were used.

"The water services team have attended the Abbey Drive area for inspections, and the hydrant was found to be in working order, as were several fire hydrants in nearby streets."

On the same evening a property in Lower Stoke, near Hoo, and another in Coldharbour Lane, Ashford, were also struck by lightning.

It comes as Kent was battered by heavy rain during a thunderstorm following last week's heat wave.

Elsewhere in the county, the Black Deer Festival in Tunbridge Wells was suspended during the headline act as the storm landed.

Rock band The Waterboys had started their set when the weather forced organisers to pull the plug.

Yesterday, thunderstorms were forecast for the county for the second time in a week.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for storms that lasts for the most of the day.