FIREFIGHTERS were called out to several lightning strikes in North Yorkshire as the hottest weather for years was followed by thunderstorms.

As temperatures soared this afternoon to 31 Centigrade, or 88 Fahrenheit, at RAF Linton on Ouse, a band of storms moved northwards across the county, in a line just to the west of York.

Towns affected included Wetherby, Harrogate, Ripon, Boroughbridge and Northallerton, and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters were called to two properties in Ripon which were struck by lightning.

A chimney pot and stack at a house in Victoria Grove were badly damaged in a strike, which caused damage to several vehicles parked in a car park below.

Another property was believed to have been struck in College Road but there was no visible sign of damage in this case, said a spokesman.

Trees were also set on fire by lightning strike in Norton Conyers and Ripon.

The Linton peak temperature was beaten by Heathrow, London, where they reached 36.7 C - the highest July temperature ever recorded in the UK and hotter than Miami, Los Angeles, Rome and Barcelona. Speed restrictions were imposed by Network Rail on some train lines amid fears the metal tracks could buckle.

Temperatures hit about 28 C in York, or the low 80s F, according to a weather station at the University of York's Department of Electronics.

Weathermen have been predicting a cooler and fresher feel to tomorrow, with temperatures in York down to 22C, and the possibility of some showery rain, heavy in places, along with some sunny intervals.

Temperatures are set to rise again on Friday to 24C and 25C on Saturday, with a close night on Friday with some heavy, possibly thundery rain.

North Yorkshire Police's Roads Policing Group tweeted yesterday that they had had a number of reports of dogs left in cars during the hot sunshine, and they urged owners:" Please don't leave dogs in cars in this weather."