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Lightning strikes light up stormy skies after heatwave eases

Rachael LazaroNorth West
News imageDeon Mansley Lightning in the purple sky over a housing estate - through a window frame with curtainsDeon Mansley
Deon Mansley took this photo in Chester at about 00:15 BST

Dramatic lightning strikes lit up stormy skies across north-west England after the recent sweltering heatwave gave way to cooler clouds and rain.

People in Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire all woke up to flashes and rumbling thunder.

It follows the UK's record-breaking heat, which saw temperatures climb above 30C in some places.

Meanwhile, Network Rail said a lightning strike was thought to have brought signalling systems down near Runcorn in Cheshire overnight, reducing train services on the West Coast Mainline, with just one an hour running between Liverpool and Crewe.

News imageAivaras Sakurovas Lightning in the distance over the sea on Crosby beach. A figure on the sand is shown in shadow on the right. Aivaras Sakurovas
One of Anthony Gormley's Another Place statues can be seen overlooking a lightning display out to sea
News imageJL Park Photography Thunder storm coming in over the bay into Silverdale, Lancashire. Lightning can be seen above a church tower, with peaked roof houses coming down the hillJL Park Photography
Lightning was captured over the bay in Silverdale, Lancashire
News imageAirMCR_ Lightning over city centre skyscapeAirMCR_
Lightning over Manchester city centre
News imageMark Griffiths Lightning forks seen in purple sky over buildings in the shadow Mark Griffiths
Lightning dances across the skies in Chester

Send us your storm photos to nwt@bbc.co.uk. Alternatively, you can upload them to the BBC Weather Watchers platform.

News imageMark Griffiths A fork of lightning in a dark sky in ChesterMark Griffiths
Lightning is formed by a buildup of static electricity inside massive storm clouds

Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.

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