Blitzed by terror bolt

FAMILY homes were set ablaze by a bolt of lightning as terrifying thunderstorms and torrential downpours battered Britain yesterday.

- Chris Riches

The roof of a mid-terraced property suffered a direct hit at Corfe Mullen, near Poole in Dorset, just after midnight - with the fire spreading to a house next door.

Neighbours spoke of "a loud explosion" and a flash of white light as the £400,000 property was struck.

Some 30 firefighters battled for two-and-a-half hours to put out the inferno. Luckily the women living in both houses were woken by the strike and fled uninjured.

Neighbour Warren Windebank, 47, said: "I saw the roof was on fire and did not know if anyone was inside.