THOUSANDS of lightning strikes hit the UK in the second major storm since May.
The Met Office reported an estimated 5,000 struck the ground in the 24 hours leading up to 8am this morning.
Every single lightning strike from this morning's storm. Sure felt like those infamous night-time storms of the 90s at times: pic.twitter.com/jtVmuTDQOG
— Essex Weather Centre (@EssexWeather) July 19, 2017
But while some parts of the country have been issued with a yellow weather warning, the worst should be over for Colchester and Tendring.
Elle Murphy, 24, was one of thousands of residents reluctantly woken up by the roar in the early hours of this morning.
The Essex University student was kept awake for nearly two hours.
She said: "It was crazy. It sounded like an explosion was going off.
"Each time I looked out of my window, the sky kept lighting up.
"My windows were closed but I felt like I was in the middle of an apocalypse.
"I don't know how anyone would've slept through it.
"I just wanted it to end so I could go back to sleep."
⚡ Woken up by #Thunderstorms last night? Here's a look at the #lightning across the UK over the past 12 hours ⚡ pic.twitter.com/rdrxANrlyG
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 19, 2017
While some people took advantage of the photo opportunity, others decided to cower away in the safety of their duvet.
Beth Bradshaw, 25, of Colchester, said: "I was so scared."
Highwoods - Andy Lee took this at about 3.30am
Photo: Gary Moore
Were you woken up by the storm? Send us your photos to ecnphotos@newsquest.co.uk.
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