SHOCKING photos of the damage at Trafford General Hospital after it was struck by lightning have been shared on social media.

A section of the hospital's roof caught fire after the lightning strike at around 2.20pm on Wednesday, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) working through the afternoon and into the evening to tackle the blaze.

Dave Lucas, a station manager for GMFRS, posted the photos on Twitter last night.

Messenger Newspapers: (Image: Dave Lucas)(Image: Dave Lucas)

They show a large hole in the roof, with burnt beams having collapsed during the fire.

In the post, Dave said: "Absolute phenomenal effort today from all attending GMFRS personnel and partners at Trafford General Hospital.

"A fantastic stop in the roof void by crews preventing further damage and disruption complemented by a cohesive multi-agency response to ensure continuity of services."

Messenger Newspapers: (Image: Dave Lucas)(Image: Dave Lucas)

In a statement at around 6pm yesterday, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said the Minor Injuries Unit and outpatient appointments should resume as normal today.

Both had been put on hold for the duration of the fire.

However, today's day case procedures were postponed.