THOUGH some trees were reported to have fallen, including one that damaged a car, Thurrock appears to have escaped the worst of Storm Isha as it passed over Thurrock last evening and into the early morning.

Last evening (Sunday, 21 January) Thurrock Nub News reported on a 'blue flash' that lit up the night sky. This morning UK Power Networks has reported that it was likely to have been caused by a power outage incident in Northfleet.

However, despite the spectacular effect, the impact was minimal as just one property was reported to have been without power.

A statement for the service recorded the outage as at exactly the same moment the flash occurred says: "There was a brief interruption to supplies in the Northfleet area at 9.23pm yesterday after a fault on the overhead network. We checked the network and worked to restore power to one customer."

In Aveley, around 10.30pm Sandy Lane was reported to be blocked as emergency services attended an incident where a car what struck by a falling tree, but no-one was injured and the road was quickly reopened.

Essex Fire Service reported things has actually been quiet overnight with just two calls in the Thurrock area.

And Thurrock Council, which was stretched almost to the limit with dozens of calls when Storm Henk crashed through the region on the evening of 2 January, also reported a night on no calls, a spokesperson saying: "We didn't have any call outs associated with the storm. Storm Henk cleared all the loose stuff out from the looks of it."

There were some reports of damage though. For example the marquee at Grays RAF Association Club on Southend Road, which withstood Storm Henk, found itself bent and mangled by last night's winds.

Tilbury Ferry was late in resuming normal weekday services this morning (Monday) and rail operator c2c reported: "Due to an object being caught on the overhead electric wires earlier today between Barking and Upminster some lines were disrupted."

"Normal service was resumed by around 9am."