Summer under a cloud as weather turns angry

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This extraordinary twister-like cloud formation over central London is the latest example of extreme weather conditions nationwide

Within an hour, its devastating work was done. Hailstones the size of marbles had battered Battersea and flashfloods caused chaos in Clapham. Lightning lit up the blackened sky. Taken from the 17th floor of the London Television Centre on the South Bank, this stunning picture shows the enormity of the cloud that heralded Tuesday's storms - the latest in this summer of dramatic contrasts.

Only four miles away the tennis at Wimbledon was rained off yet again as the weather was blamed for a big fall in this year's attendance.

Two girls aged 13 and 15 were treated for serious burns after being struck by lightning at the end of the school day at Ipswich High School.

The East of England Ambulance Service said the strike had blown the girls' shoes apart.

'They were struck simultaneously,' said a spokesman. 'They both had entry and exit wounds on their arms and feet.' He said the girls, who remained conscious throughout their ordeal, had not suffered life-threatening injuries.

The stormy start to July follows the third wettest June on record.

According to Met Office statistics, 105.3mm or 41ins of rain fell last month. Only 1912 and 1982 were wetter.

Moments after its passing, the sunshine-was out again. Commuters battling-their way home in the evening rush hour shook out soaking umbrellas and shrugged off steaming raincoats. Nick Ricketts of the Met officesaid: 'There had been an extended period of cold wet weather. When the sun finally arrived, it warmed the surface temperature and that mix caused the storms to begin.' Don't put away your umbrella (or sunscreen) just yet. According to the weathermen, our mixed-up summer hasn't finished with us.

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The snow-like scene in Clapham, South London, after a hailstorm yesterday

Get the sledge out: Only the leaves on the trees betray that it is summer in South London as hailstones cover this street in Battersea with a thick, white carpet

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