Four firecrews were sent to a former hospital building after it was struck by lightning this morning.

Fire engines from Braintree, Witham and Colchester were called after lightning struck the roof of part of the former St Michael's Hospital, Rayne Road, Braintree, causing a fire, at 8.03 this morning.

The entire building, measures 16 by six metres, was completely smoke logged when crews arrived at the scene, forcing firemen to use breathing apparatus to get the fire under control.

Using two hose reel jets, firefighters extinguished the blaze by 9.12 this morning.