Lightning strike at Aldridge Wetherspoon pub where customers evacuated caused 'electrical faults'
A Wetherspoon pub in Aldridge was closed for more than 24 hours after it was struck by lightning.
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Customers were evacuated from The Avion on Anchor Road on Saturday evening as a result of the weather incident.
Emergency services were called to the scene when the lightning struck at the back of the pub, causing electrical faults.
A spokesman for J D Wetherspoon confirmed the site was closed until the following evening.
He said: "The Avion was evacuated and closed at around 7pm on Saturday due to a lightning strike at the back of the premises.
"Everyone was evacuated quickly and safely, no staff or customers were hurt and no damage was done to the building.
"The lightning strike did, however, cause some electrical faults and subsequent closure of the pub.
"The Avion reopened on Sunday at around 7.45pm."
Fire crews were called to the pub just after 7.05pm where, on arrival, they found smoke inside as a result of an anti-theft device which had been set off by the lightning strike.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "Two fire engines and a 4x4 brigade response vehicle responded, crewed by 12 firefighters from Walsall and Bloxwich fire stations.
"Crews arrived at the scene of a public house to find smoke in the building, which had been produced by an anti-theft device. It had actuated after a lightning strike had hit the pub.
"Firefighters conducted thorough inspections of the interior and exterior of the building and used a thermal imaging camera to confirm there was no fire present.
"There were no injuries or casualties and everyone had evacuated before we arrived at the scene.
"Crews offered advice to site management before leaving the scene shortly after 7.45pm."
One man, who was in the pub at the time of the incident, said he heard a "big bang".
Writing to Facebook, the customer said: "The Avion Aldridge, big bang I think it was hit by lightning.
"Evacuated outside in the rain and two fire engines turned up."
The incident came as the region was hit was heavy rain over the weekend, with the Met Office having issued a yellow weather warning across both days.
