COUNTY NEWS: Terror as 4ft log smashes through window after lightning '˜explodes' tree

A couple were left terrified after a 4ft log smashed through their bedroom window as storms battered the south overnight.
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Pieces of wood ‘bigger than people’ were thrown through the air after a 100ft tree, in Mulberry Close, in Horsham, was struck by lightning in the early hours of the morning.

Resident David Layzelle said: “We heard an enormous explosion. There was a huge bang and the tree went off like a grenade.”

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Neighbour Josh Roles was in bed with his girlfriend, Rhiannon Depla, when a log crashed through a window inches away from their bed.

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The 23-year-old said: “The lightning was getting closer and closer, one was really close then the next one hit the tree and our window just smashed and a log came through.

“We got straight out of bed and ran into the hallway. I thought lightning had hit the house, I didn’t see the log. It was terrifying.”

The pair immediately called the fire service. They arrived at 1.40am and helped patch up the window.

“It sounded like a bomb,” he said.

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“It was so loud and with it smashing the window and the car alarms going off it was like a war zone.”

As well as the broken window the pair have also had two cars damaged, one of which may be written off.

Josh said other people had their cars hit but he was not aware any other properties had been damaged.

“I think we are still coming to terms with it. It was frighting,” he said.

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“Pieces of wood bigger than a person have been chucked 25 metres and hit houses and cars.

“It (the tree) was about 100ft and now its about 15-20ft. There’s nothing left.

“I think it was really lucky no-one was hurt.”

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