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.

This Is Local London: Erith lightning

Erith. Photo by @rejectof5sos

This Is Local London: Crystal Palace lightning

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

This Is Local London: Greenwich

The storm over Greenwich

This Is Local London: Petts Wood lightning

Petts Wood. Photo by Soph Eliza

This Is Local London: Eltham lightning

New Eltham. Photo by Emma Cole

This Is Local London: Bean lightning

Bean. Photo by Kerry Luck

This Is Local London: Penge lightning

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

This Is Local London: Shooters Hill lightning

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

This Is Local London: Lightening storm photos

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

This Is Local London: Barnehurst lightning 

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

This Is Local London: Barnehurst lightning

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

This Is Local London: Barnehurst lightning

Barnehurst. Photo by Bradley Bird

This Is Local London: Bexley lightning

Bexley by the A2. Photo by Julie Bradley

This Is Local London: Blackfen lightning

Blackfen. Photo by Lauren

This Is Local London: Blackfen lightning

Blackfen. Photo by Lauren

This Is Local London: London lightning

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

This Is Local London: London lightning

Photo by MPS Helicopters (@MPSinthesky)

This Is Local London: Sydenham lightning

Sydenham. Photo by Kerry Harris

This Is Local London: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

This Is Local London: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

This Is Local London: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

This Is Local London: Eltham lightning

Eltham. Photo by Alex Semedo

This Is Local London: Last nights storm

Orpington. Photo by Mark Clift

This Is Local London: 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!