BOSTON -- Powerful thunderstorms moved through Worcester county Friday evening bringing vivid lightning strikes and hail measuring an inch.

Trees and wires were reported down in Athol, Harvard, Leominister and Worcester, the National Weather Service said on its Web site. In some areas, the trees blocked streets.

In Franklin county, a house in the town of Warwick was reported struck by lightning. In Montague, a lightning strike started a brush fire.

The hail was reported to last more than ten minutes in some locations.