EAST Lancashire’s skies are set to continue hosting stunning light shows and thundering booms for another two nights at least, weather experts say.

Residents posted videos of the lightning reflecting on swirling shimmering clouds online as the spectacular storms kept people awake.

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And there will be no let up from the muggy nights across East Lancashire – as health bosses revealed the number of people suffering from breathing issues has risen by more than a fifth this week.

The North West Ambulance Service has taken 3,763 calls, mainly from asthmatics and the elderly, over the last seven days – up 21 per cent from 3,101 last week.

Advanced paramedic Sam English said: “The warm weather can create various problems, particularly for the chronically sick, elderly, babies and young children and those who are fasting for Ramadan.

“The biggest risk during these hot spells is dehydration.”

A retirement housing scheme in Darwen urged families to make sure their elderly relatives living alone take extra care.

Catherine Gallagher, from Anchor’s Lees Court in Ribble Avenue, said: “We recommend older people stay hydrated and keep out of the sunlight as much as possible.

“In these temperatures it’s important to avoid caffeinated drinks as they are dehydrating.

“And they should try to avoid hot meals and instead eat salads and fruit, as these foods are water based so will help you stay hydrated.”

The Met Office says the region remains on a yellow warning, and tonight and tomorrow will see more flash torrential downpours, with large hail falling amid another two evenings of spectacular flashes in the skies above.

The days are expected to be warm and muggy, forecasters said.

A spokesman said: “Storms could be severe, with torrential downpours and large hail – 30 mm of rain is possible in less than an hour, with as much as 50 mm possible in three hours.”

It has been a crazy week nationally – rain delayed the start of play on the fourth morning of Wimbledon yesterday – a day after temperatures reached a record high of 35.7C at nearby Kew Gardens – the nearest Met Office station to the All England Club.

And there will be no respite across East Lancashire, with several events such as the Starlight Walk set to be hit by storms.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “The outlook for Saturday to Monday is rain, locally heavy with thunder.”