A father and his kids have fallen victim of lightning strikes as heavy storm dangerously sweeps across town.
Submerged: One man tried to flee is flooded vehicle in Wallington, London, this afternoon after heavy downpours overwhelmed the drains
The father and his two young children are currently fighting for their lives in hospital after being struck by a bolt of lightning during a school sports day event.
The man, his five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter are all being treated for severe burns at a hospital in Belfast after they were struck during the organised event at Lisburn in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, at around 2pm.
The father and his son are described as being 'critically ill' in intensive care while the daughter is said to be in a 'serious' condition.
It comes as severe storms brought flash flooding and thundery downpours to much of the UK – marking an abrupt end to the recent sunny spell.
Cars were left submerged in residential streets and houses set ablaze by lightning strikes as heavy rain, hail and lightning swept in from the West.
Chaotic scenes: Cars were seen submerged in deep floodwater under a bridge in Wallington as heavy rain engulfed one residential street
Homes in Stoke Newington, North London, and in Midlothian, Scotland, caught alight after being struck by a bolt of lightning as heavy downpours moved in across much of the UK this afternoon, while residents reported feeling like the 'world was ending' when the heavens opened suddenly after lunch.
Large swathes of Britain had been enjoying balmy temperatures well into the mid-twenties until lunchtime, but the recent humidity sparked a surge of thunderstorms and lightning strikes by mid-afternoon.
The Met Office was forced to issue a number of severe weather warnings as floodwater engulfed numerous streets across the south east of England, including in Surrey and south London where cars were seen floating in deep water.
Motorists were forced to flee their cars under a bridge in Wallington, south London, as torrential rain caused flash flooding yesterday.
Unfortunate: One car - with its boot wide open - was heavily submerged in floodwater in Wallington, South London, late this afternoon
Bystander Paul Jolly said he watched as people were forced to flee on Wallington High Street as the road began to flood.
He said: 'It started off with a little bit of rain....cars obviously tried to make it through under the bridge and then suddenly it was like the world was ending.
'Three cars got caught, people were being dragged out.'
London Fire Brigade confirmed they had been called to a number of incidents across south London.
A spokesman said: 'We're attending a number of flash flooding & lightning strike calls in Wallington, Mitcham and Croydon.'
Meanwhile, firefighters were called to a property in Mayfield, Midlothian, this afternoon after it was hit by lightning.
No-one was injured but the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances were sent to the scene to deal with roof damage.