Lightning struck a house as thunderstorms hit the town.

It blasted a chimney on Hodges Street, Springfield, causing a shower of debris in a family's front room.

The lightning travelled down the aerial and into the back of a TV set-top box, which burst into flames.

Four other appliances, which were connected on a four-way plug adaptor, caught fire. By the time firefighters from Wigan and Leigh arrived the fire was out.

The crews waited until the lightning stopped before going onto the roof with the aid of a hydraulic platform to make it safe. They also cleared debris from the chimney.

No-one was hurt and no other properties were affected.

A Met Office spokesman said the 'sharp rise' in temperatures across the country had led to the thunderstorm.

He said: "There were isolated spots of torrential rain in parts of north Wales, the north west and Cumbria.

"We don't expect them to continue."