Driver arrested after car struck by lightning in London

A driver's car was struck by lightning during Friday's storm in London before he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

The car flipped onto its side and witnesses said the vehicle was "smoking" after it was struck by lightning.

Zoe Saint, who saw the incident in Plumstead, told News Shopper: "I suddenly heard what I knew was a car crashing because of the impact sound, 'bang, bang', glass smashing - I barely heard a screech from the tyres."

She added: "The driver let us know he was okay and we got him to climb from the car."

Witness Tyrone Hill, 23, told the Evening Standard: "He definitely had a lucky escape. The car started smoking, we thought he was going to die."

Police arrived shortly after the incident and arrested the driver.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found the car, a silver Renault, on its side in the street.

"The driver of the car - a man believed aged in his 40s - was taken to a south London hospital as a precaution; he was not injured.

"The driver was also arrested on suspicion of drink driving."