Live action here http://www.camsecure.co.uk/portsmouth_harbour_webcam.html

Phenomenal lightning storm; thunder continuous, heavy rain, lightning every 10 seconds or so. 5th May 1989.

I presume Kev is referring to convectiveweather.co.uk and NetWeather's Nick Finnis who specialises in storm forecasts. I don't know if either had a 'favoured' location but both had a moderate chance for severe weather across northern England - which still isn't a certainty that anything will happen but I think a bit of disappointment is understandable, especially in an era where thunder days are falling for no apparent reason. 

https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#m=sat;r=0;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;n=0;z=13;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;y=50.9711;x=-1.3465;

Lightning now nearly continuous! Unbelievable! Flashing constantly- more than summer! Nearest strike was about 200m away. 

Which serves as a warning to all in these situations to nowcast yourself given the tools available rather than rely on others. As an aside, the previously maligned Estofex had a Lvl1 forecast this morning that looks spot on at the moment.

Hail storm too- drifts of it.. Lightning now every 10 seconds or so again.

The storm has just arrived here. Torrential rain and thunder briefly although it has eased off for the moment. A classic early plume. The sky looked very threatening earlier as the first shower moved in and after a calm day the wind started picking up ahead of the shower. No need for a forecast in this situation. I knew exactly what was coming.

Pepping up again- frequent lightning every few seconds; conservatory flooded .

Just the aftermath; light rain, a few desultory flashes in the distance.

A little snippet of tonight's big one as it moved in a few miles to my west - i was just on the edge of it.

Storm

How many flashes in the first 3 minutes can you count?

Has arrived here now but nothing like what people have experienced further south. Some moderate rain, the occasional distant flash, one rumble heard.