Sutton school teaching assistant struck by lightning

A 25-year-old teaching assistant survived without serious injury after being struck by lightning at the south London primary school where he works.

The bolt knocked Tom Langham to the ground at Hackbridge Primary School, Sutton, but he made his way back to the building, the school said.

He was taken to hospital from where he is expected to be discharged later. He plans to be back at work on Thursday.

Mr Langham said he felt like he had been "in a round with Mike Tyson".

The lightning strike, at about 1345 BST, disrupted power supply to computers and set off the school's burglar alarm.

Train problems

The school's head teacher, Jacquie Fairhurst, said: "The bolt knocked him to the ground but he didn't lose consciousness and was able to make his way back inside.

"Afterwards he said he was fine but felt like he had been in a round with Mike Tyson."

Sutton Council's executive member for education and school, Kirsty Jerome, said: "Fortunately the teaching assistant does not seem to have been seriously injured. We wish him a speedy recovery."

Earlier in the day there were lightning strikes in Southall in west London and Kentish Town in north London which led to signal problems and delays on main line train routes.

Signalling problems in Southall affected services west of London, including the Heathrow Express.

There were delays on First Capital Connect between Luton and Sutton, and between Bedford and Brighton, due to lightning strikes at Kentish Town.

It meant trains were unable to stop at Mill Hill, Hendon and Cricklewood on the southbound route.

Southeastern services also suffered delays between Sevenoaks and Kentish Town and Southern services were also affected.