Brightons butchers ablaze as lightning strikes and floods hit Falkirk area

Firefighters rushed to Main Street, Brightons in the early hours to deal with a fire – believed to have been caused by a lightning strike – at Thomas Johnston’s butcher shop.

There were also reports of a fire at a residential property Reddingrig Place, Reddingmuirhead.

Flooding also affected the car park at the Cadgers Brae Brewers Fayre on Beancross Road, near Polmont and there were also reports of cars being enveloped by floodwater in Langton Road, Westquarter.

The Beancross Primary School was due to open to pupils again today, but that has now been delayed due to flooding in the streets around the premises.

A Falkirk Council spokesman said: “There is a flooding response in place this morning following thunderstorms and intense rainfall overnight. The yellow Met Office weather warning for thunderstorms remains in place until 2359 hrs today giving a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

“Spray and sudden flooding could also lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There are a small number of roads affected by the intense rainfall that we experienced overnight but as water is receding this morning, we are working to get these roads open again as soon as we can.”

The list of roads currently closed due to flooding includes Newlands Road, Abbots Road, Beancross Road, Dalratho Road, Primrose Avenue, Paris Street, Laurieston Road and Kingseat Avenue in Grangemouth, as well as Langton Road, Westquarter.

The council confirmed Beancross Primary School will be closed today and will hopefully re-open to pupils tomorrow and Moray Primary School will be open at 10am today.

More information about the flood and fire damage will be reported as the information becomes available.