Extensive damage was caused by a fire that broke out after lightning struck a restaurant near Lara beach early on Friday morning.

The fire service said it was informed about the incident at around 2.55am when a call was received about a fire in a metal structure that operates as a café-restaurant under a tin roof.

The restaurant suffered extensive damage from the fire, leading its roof to collapse, before the fire was fully extinguished at around 4.40am.