THEIR life was literally blown apart by a one-in-a-million lightning strike.

But almost eight months to the day since their Upton home was destroyed by the freak bolt, the Day family have moved back into their own house.

Dad Peter, mum Julie and daughters Jodie, 17, Shannon, 13, and Megan, 10, were left homeless when the devastating explosion gutted the house during the violent storms of March 10.

Click to view footage of the Day's home after the fire

But the repair work has finally been completed and the house even has a new bedroom built in the previously incinerated roof.

“We’re pleased to be home,” said Peter.

“We’ve been really looking forward to moving back in.

“The house looks lovely now.”

The Days have been living in a rented bungalow in Hamworthy for the last eight months and were helped in the immediate aftermath of the blaze by Echo readers.

An overwhelming response to an Echo appeal helped provide the stricken family with everything from clothes to beds.

“A lot of the things came in very handy,” said Peter.

“We went from nothing to being OK again in 10 days once the insurance money came in.”

Also lost in the fire were irreplaceable family photo albums, though Julie’s employers, LV, generously donated a professional photo session to the Days.

The children’s school – Upton Junior – also rallied round the family and raised more than £280 with a non-uniform day.

At the time of the lightning strike, Julie and the girls had all been in the house but managed to escape with just minor cuts and bruises.

Peter said that although the girls were still a bit “shaky” during bad storms, they had recovered well from their ordeal.

And he remains philosophical about the extraordinary events of March 10 and the months since.

“It was something beyond anyone’s control,” he said.

“But it will stick in our minds for a long time to come.”