FIREFIGHTERS had to haul an 80kg water pump half a mile along the Thames after a lightning strike set two trees on fire.

Wokingham Road's fire crews were called to the remote site but had to abandon their fire engine and carry their equipment to the blaze.

Crew manager Daniel Wheeler said: "We think it may have been struck by lightning, there were micro-storms last night.

"It's opened the tree right up, it's quite striking.

"It was well alight when we arrived, it had been building up for several hours.

"Because it was such a remote area we had to carry the small water pump for half a mile along the river along with the hoses and other gear. It was quite a long walk."