A boxing club was destroyed, roads flooded and several homes struck by lightning as freak weather battered south Essex.

Crushed - club trainer Cliff Wright at the wrecked Rayleigh Boxing Club Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

A tree collapsed onto the roof of the club in an industrial unit in Quest End, Rawreth Road, Rayleigh, as 45mph winds and driving rain caused chaos.

Tony Thake, owner of the boxing club, said: "There was no warning. When the tree fell it destroyed the place. It looks like someone has taken a matchbox and crushed it with their fingers."

The bad weather caused flooding in London Road, Leigh, and the seafront was pounded by huge waves.

Firefighters were called to help stop flooding at Casey's factory, which had sandbags placed around it.

The ground floor of a block of flats in London Road, Leigh, also suffered some flooding as the water rose.

The summer storms meant Essex Ambulance Service had 582 calls. Crews attended 505 incidents during the 24-hour period.

Postal deliveries from Shoebury post office, in George Street, were severly disrupted this morning after a power cut.

A motorcyclist was injured when he came of his bike in Wakering Road, Southend. A van and a car collided in Eastwoodbury Crescent which caused minor injuries.

Train passengers suffered lengthy delays last night.

Part of the roof at Lakeside Shopping Centre collapsed under the weight of the rainfall last night and a large leak affected a number of shops as the rain continued to fall.

Published Thursday July 8, 2004

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