LIGHTNING struck a tree in Priory Park on Tuesday evening, startling staff and gym users at Malvern Splash.

Park keeper Tony Kiesslinger said the 70-year-old, 70ft tulip tree had been examined by an expert, who said it was safe and should survive.

"I've worked in the parks department for 30 years and it's the first tree I've known to be hit by lightning," he said.

Staff member Andi Burns was in the gym at the Splash when he saw a flash as lightning hit the tree.

"The lights and power went out and it set the alarms off," he said.

Tuesday's storms also caused chaos in other parts of Malvern.

Firefighters were called to a Malvern Girls' College boarding house and Oxfam, in Church Street, when the alarms malfunctioned.

They were also called to the hills, in answer to a report that lightning had starting a fire, only to discover someone had lit a bonfire.

Malvern Gazette weather expert Frank Hill said lightning hitting a tree was not exceptional, as trees were in danger in any thunderstorm.

He described Tuesday's storms as "fairly average" and said they only created 10mm to 15mm of rainfall.