A lightning storm hit during the early hours, lighting up the night sky and leading to some spectacular pictures.

People across the News Shopper patch in south-east London and north Kent were woken up by the thunder and lightning during Thursday night.

While it might have caused some sleepy heads at work, it did at least provide some great photo opportunities.

Below is a selection of storm pictures people have kindly shared with us.

And, as is becoming the norm, the Met Police helicopter crew was on hand to supply some amazing images.

News Shopper: Erith lightning

Erith. Photo by @rejectof5sos

News Shopper: Crystal Palace lightning

 Lightning hitting the Crystal Palace transmitter tower. Photo by Paul Claridge

News Shopper: Greenwich

The storm over Greenwich

News Shopper: Petts Wood lightning

Petts Wood. Photo by Soph Eliza

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

New Eltham. Photo by Emma Cole

News Shopper: Bean lightning

Bean. Photo by Kerry Luck

News Shopper: Penge lightning

Looking out from Penge over to Bromley. Photo by Julie Whitney

News Shopper: Shooters Hill lightning

A bolt coming down in Shooters Hill. Photo by Simon Emmett

News Shopper: Lightening storm photos

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

News Shopper: Barnehurst lightning 

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

News Shopper: Barnehurst lightning

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

News Shopper: Barnehurst lightning

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

News Shopper: Bexley lightning

Bexley by the A2. Photo by Julie Bradley

News Shopper: Blackfen lightning

Blackfen. Photo by Lauren

News Shopper: Blackfen lightning

Blackfen. Photo by Lauren

News Shopper: London lightning

The lightning storm moves north-east toward Essex and East Anglia. Photo by MPS Helicopters (@MPSinthesky)

News Shopper: London lightning

Photo by MPS Helicopters (@MPSinthesky)

News Shopper: Sydenham lightning

Sydenham. Photo by Kerry Harris

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

News Shopper: Last nights storm

Orpington. Photo by Mark Clift

News Shopper: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Paige Davies

If you snapped any pictures of the storm last night, we'd love to see them and add them here. Click here to send them to us through our web form,  use email, tweet us @newsshopper, send through Facebook or text 80360 starting your message with NEWS SHOPPER. Thanks!