County hit by deluge (From Witney Gazette)

County hit by deluge

1:25pm Wednesday 12th July 2006 in Witney

TORRENTIAL downpours caused flash floods as violent bolts of lightning left thousands of homes in the dark as a storm wreaked havoc across Oxfordshire last Wednesday night.

A freak deluge saw an entire month's worth of rainfall in just two hours at RAF Brize Norton.

Lightning strikes brought down eight Southern Electric cables causing a blackout to 3,500 homes in Witney, Alvescot, Wootton and Woodstock.

Another strike knocked out signalling on the Cotswold line at Ascott-under-Wychwood, which caused disruption for passengers for up to five hours.