Ellesmere Port house fire started by lightning strike
A lightning strike started a fire in a bungalow as the recent sunshine gave way to fierce storms.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at the home in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, on Monday night.
Nearby resident Ted Chapman said: "There was a huge bang and everywhere went white.
"I went outside to see my neighbour's house on fire. I've been on holiday and seen some storms before, but never anything like this."
Lightning struck the Belgrave Drive home at about 21:00 BST as storms gripped much of Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.
The fire caused considerable damage to the property's roof, and loose tiles also had to be removed to make the structure safe.
Firefighters used a large fan to clear smoke from inside the bungalow. No-one was at home at the time.