Gusts of up to 70 mph with hail and rain, brought almighty thunder and lightning at 6.30 am in the morning, Friday, December 29, in Dartmouth. A lightning strike near Dartmouth Castle was heard, with two ear-shattering crashes of thunder. Although no damage was reported at Castle, the wind caused the Christmas tree in Royal Avenue Gardens to lean and, according to on onlooker, it is only the electrical cable which is stopping it leaning further.

The high winds quickly moved the early morning thunderstorms onwards. Although rain persisted, the time between the flashes and the thunder grew longer as the storms passed.

Following severe gusts and rain, and some hailstones, by midday, the clouds and wind passed Dartmouth and a period of brief sunshine was a respite from the severe weather which was predicted to return.

Simon Webb, who lives in Dartmouth said: “My wife woke first and then she woke me. I wasn’t too pleased about that. There were quite a few thunderbolts. We live in a loft conversion and the rain and hail hitting the windows were strong enough for me to worry that the hail might come through.”