A BOURNEMOUTH couple are counting the cost after their home was wrecked when it was struck by lightning.

Alan Dennett and Tracy Gillett were forced to leave after the roof caught fire and a water tank split, flooding their home.

Neighbours fled in terror when they heard a massive bang during freak weather conditions just before 10.30am yesterday.

"There was a very loud bang and an orange flash," said Mr Dennett, who was at home in Truman Road, Kinson. "I thought That was close', then there was a knock on the door from my neighbours who said the roof was on fire.

"This was supposed to be the first day of my holiday. We won't be able to live here for days and we've got to sort out insurance and repairs."

Water from the tank helped extinguish the blaze but left the terraced house soaked.

Tracy's father, Michael, and labrador Harry were also at the address at the time.

Nextdoor neighbour Mary Moore said she, her son and her two daughters, Tammy and Irene, were at home when lightning struck. "There was a flash in Irene's room - she's eight months pregnant. It was very frightening. We grabbed the animals, four cats and one dog, and came running out."

The bang was heard in several roads in the area, including Millhams Road where Tanya Noye was visiting her parents. She said: "It was bizarre and quite freaky really. There was an almighty bang and the television blew."

It is believed electrical items, including TVs and computers, were damaged in a number of homes. The lightning strike came in the middle of a storm which also showered the area with hail.

Police and fire services were called to the Truman Road incident but left the scene after half an hour when they established that properties were in no further danger.

  • STAFF and pupils at The Blandford School took shelter in an old building after their main building was struck by lightning around lunchtime yesterday.

No one was injured. Firefighters checked the building and found no damage.