A huge thunderclap over Manchester was so strong it shook houses and set off car alarms, according to reports on social media.

Residents across the city claimed 'the entire earth cracked' when 'canons' and 'explosions' were heard shortly before 11pm on Tuesday night.

Lightning flashed and rain came down heavily as a storm rumbled into the region after several days of sunshine and high temperatures.

Martin Bryant ‏@MartinSFP tweeted after the loud bang: "Dramatically loud thunder in Manchester right now."

Watch: Amazing footage shows lightning in the skies above Manchester as thunder roars across city

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Natalie Pastor ‏@Nattersog added: "Loudest thunder ever!!! It sounds like the entire earth cracked in two!#storm#manchester"

Shahina Shahina ‏@shhh_hina joked: "What was that thunder? Manchester, are you still there? I'm not looking outside."

Claire Thompson ‏@Claire_tea added: "Jesus was that thunder in Manchester? Sounded like an explosion"

Adam Talbot ‏@adamtalbot wrote: "Wow, enormous double clap of thunder over south Manchester. Sounded like two canon shots."

Mobrien93 ‏@MattyObrien993_ tweeted: "That thunder that went over Manchester then was the loudest I have ever heard it! Bedroom literally trembled."

Daniel Allen ‏@MrDanAllen asked: "Did anyone else's house in Manchester just shake with that godly boom of thunder?"

Niall Holohan ‏@Hooli_tweet 42m42 minutes ago

Poppy Ingham @PoppyIngham wrote: in Salford. Car alarms going off.

Proper summers are upon us. Sunny and warm followed by thunder and lighting. This is Manchester we do things differently here.

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And Mick Cooper ‏@themickcooper joked: "A thunder clap so loud it forced all of Manchester onto Social Media"

The Met Office have not issued any new weather warnings for the North West of England, but have predicted rain across the region on Tuesday night:

A spokesman said: "Showers continuing for most this evening, before easing during the early hours to leave a dry end to the night. Some clearer spells then developing and perhaps some mist developing in prone spots."