THIS is the aftermath of a lightning strike on a house as the soaring temperatures sparked a series of severe thunderstorms, The Northern Echo reports.

The bolt of lightning started a fire in the roof of the property in Dean Park, Ferryhill, County Durham, yesterday (July 2).

Luckily the occupants were out of the house at the time, although the family's 15-year-old cat, Alan, was rescued by firefighters.

The fire was just one of a series of incidents sparked by the storms with trees crashing down, reports of flash-flooding and several power cuts.

The owner of the house, Raymond Lee, was at work when the storm passed over.

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Emergency services were called to the detached family home shortly after 3pm and the fire was dealt with by 6pm.