Two properties have been engulfed in flames after being hit by lightning during the early hours of the morning.

Firefighters remain at both locations this evening - they have appealed to members of the public to stay away from the area while emergency services attempt to tackle the incidents.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue said in a statement: "Lightning is reported to have started fires in Eastbourne and in Bexhill.

"East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called at 12.03am on 27 June 2026 to a roof alight on a house in Selmeston Road, Eastbourne. At 12.19am, we were called to Long Avenue in Bexhill following reports a house was alight after being struck by lightning."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue said in a statement: "Lightning is reported to have started fires in Eastbourne and in Bexhill.

"East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called at 12.03am on 27 June 2026 to a roof alight on a house in Selmeston Road, Eastbourne. At 12.19am, we were called to Long Avenue in Bexhill following reports a house was alight after being struck by lightning."

"Joint Fire Control have received multiple 999 calls. Crews are working hard, with four fire engines sent to each incident.

"At this time there are no reports of injuries. Please avoid the areas."

It comes as the Met Office reported that the third successive day of June's record-breaking temperatures arrived as sections of the UK were experiencing a shift to more of a westerly influence, bringing the threat of thunderstorms.

Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said: "The UK is seeing a gradual shift in conditions over the weekend, with those to the southeast of England retaining the warmth the longest, where an amber extreme heat warning remains in force through much of Saturday, though peaks are more likely to be in the low 30s Celsius."

Western areas of Scotland and large swathes of Northern Ireland are set to experience some rainfall on Saturday, with showers expected to push further southwards in certain areas on Sunday, although these are likely to be relatively light.

Those residing in the south east could stay dry throughout the weekend, though there remains a threat of thunderstorms in the region before temperatures begin to ease back towards more typical levels later on Sunday and into Monday.

Friday was officially confirmed by the Met Office as the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C logged in Santon Downham, Suffolk, eclipsing the previous high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.