Lightning sets Shropshire home ablaze

A SHROPSHIRE HOME was destroyed as violent electrical storms rocked the county.

Lightning hit two homes near Shrewsbury last night, forcing one family to flee as a fire ripped through their home.

Meanwhile, hail storms hit Bridgnorth and torrential downpours left other parts of the county under water.

Scott Caudwell, 34, was in bed at his home in Mayfield Grove, Bayston Hill, at about 11.30pm when lightning struck.

Mr Caudwell, who runs Shrewsbury Couriers, said he and his wife Keeley, 30, then smelt burning in the bedroom before hearing the shouts of neighbours outside screaming at them to get out because the roof was on fire.

The couple woke up their two children —Katie, 8, and Ben, 6 — before fleeing the three-bedroom home and taking refuge in the street.

"A huge flash went straight to my eyelid and then there was this huge bang," said Mr Caudwell.

"It set my heart pounding and I just froze where I was, lying there thinking what it was.

"Keeley came running up the stairs in a panic as she had heard it and had been in the back garden at the time.

"We could smell burning which seemed to be coming from the bedroom and we noticed that lightning had blown out the TV and blown the socket from the wall straight into pieces.

"Keeley looked out of the window and could see the neighbours were gathering around outside the house and they were shouting at her to get out because the roof was on fire.

"The whole loft space has been completely burned out and there is a great big hole in the roof.

"The ceiling has completely collapsed in our bedroom — the main bedroom, and there is water and smoke damage."

Mr Caudwell said the fire had also caused some damage to the roof of his neighbour's home.

He said he was unsure how the blaze had started.

Mr Caudwell said: "It's one of those freak things which is a bit of a one-in-a-million thing, I hope. Luckily none of us were hurt which is the main thing."

The family will be left homeless until the damage can be repaired but say they have been offered a place to stay.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent two pumps from Shrewsbury and an officer to the scene.

Four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets were in use along with an aerial ladder platform which was used to remove roof tiles.

Today was expected to be dry, with forecasters predicting the possibility of more unsettled weather on Wednesday and Thursday.

By Russell Roberts