Lightning forces temporary game suspension

Soccer:The Euro 2012 match between France and Ukraine in Donetsk has been suspended because of adverse weather conditions.

The players were taken off the pitch less than five minutes after the game got under way as driving rain and lightning made conditions unplayable. The two sides are in Group D along with England, who take on Sweden later tonight.

The match resumed after a 55 minute interruption having been suspended in the fifth minute due to the extreme weather conditions. Referee Bjorn Kuipers had ordered the players to go back to the dressing-rooms with co-hosts Ukraine and France level at 0-0. Fans, officials and reporters ran for cover and the stadium was almost empty five minutes after the match was stopped.