Chaos after huge storm

Thunderstorms brought chaos to the West Midlands, setting homes on fire, flooding roads and disrupting trains and trams last night.

More than a fortnight's rain fell in under three hours, sparking almost 400 calls to West Midlands Fire Service.

The deluge dumped more than an inch of rain on the region – and weathermen today warned of more to come.

Click here to see more flooding and storms pictures.

The devastation included:

* A mother and son who had a lucky escape as a bolt of lightning smashed through the roof of their home in Kidderminster.

* Four cars wrecked after a lightning strike at Carcraft in Wednesbury.

* Homes and shops across the Black Country and Staffordshire swamped by flash floods.

* Water poured through the roof of St Giles Church, Rowley Regis, after lead was plundered by metal thieves.

Today Chris Kain told how his wife Nicki, aged 37, and seven-year-old son Louis fled in terror after a bolt hit their home in Kestrel Close, Kidderminster, causing the roof to cave in. "It hit us like a torpedo," he said.

Elsewhere motorists were left stranded in submerged cars and manhole covers were ripped up as roads turned into rivers.

A taxi driver in Wolverhampton had to be rescued by firemen because he could not swim.

Several trees were hit and set alight around Birmingham and Wolverhampton's Central Baths were today shut by rainwater that flooded the room that controls the pumps and filtration system.

Graiseley Community Healthy Living Centre in Pool Road, Wolverhampton, was also closed today after being flooded.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Bill Gough said: "We were inundated with a call every minute for up to six hours."