A THUNDER clap so loud residents thought it was a bomb shook Christchurch on Sunday night.

People living in the Somerford, Mudeford, Burton, Highcliffe and Walkford areas reported thunder sounding like an explosion, which set off car and burglar alarms and shook buildings.

Moments later lightning caused street lights to go out, hitting telegraph poles, a drain and a footbridge and damaging public toilets. 

Readers on the Echo's Facebook page reported that the thunder was more like an explosion. Several though the nearby petrol station had been hit by lightning or there had been a train crash or bomb. 

A spokesperson for Christchurch council said it was believed the lightning may have hit a telegraph pole at Purewell Cross, which resulted in a hole in the roof of the public toilets next to it.

Metal flashings had been lost and it had also knocked out electricity connections. The toilets are closed until repairs can be made.

There were also reports that lightning had struck the footbridge near Sainsbury's in Lyndhurst Road.

A spokesperson for Dorset Fire and Rescue said they had not been made aware of any incidents.

One person who lives in Somerford and thought the thunder was an explosion said they thought the nearby petrol station, which has been hit by lightning twice recently, had “gone up”.

“It wasn't until there was a second flash about three or four minutes later that we realised it was thunder”, they added.

“We as a family love watching the thunder and lightning normally but this terrified us.”

Rapid PCs in Christchurch said they had taken a number of calls on Monday after computers had been affected by the lightning.

Engineer Richard Hogg said their router was affected and they had taken nearly a dozen calls from other people reporting problems.

The thunder and lightning, which struck the area around 11pm was followed by a morning of heavy rain.

Gervis Road in Bournemouth suffered surface water flooding with problems also reported on Castle Lane at Iford.

And Braidley Road and Westcliff Road also suffered problems as the rain continued throughout the day.

The poor weather meant the Sandbanks Ferry refit will start on Tuesday rather than today.

And road works on Panorama Road in Sandbanks were also slightly delayed due to the bad weather.