Family 'lose everything' after lightning strike sets fire to house

A family has described how they 'lost everything' in a devastating fire after their house was struck by lightning.

Steve Force and his partner Rachel Partridge had been at home on Saturday night (21/9) when their property was rocked by a "massive bang".

Steve, 42, said the impact of the lightning strike "shook the whole house" before a neighbour knocked on the door to tell them their roof was on fire.

Firefighters rushed to the scene on Kitchen Lane, in Essington, Staffs., as the flames spread to three other properties at around 9pm.

Crews worked until 1.30am the following morning (Sun) to extinguish the blaze which destroyed Steve and Rachel's roof and badly damaged bedrooms.