Community rallies after Stoke-on-Trent house 'hit by lightning' as TVs 'blow up'
Caring residents have rallied around to support an elderly woman whose house was thought to have been struck by lightning. And families on Longton's Bambury Street say the incident resulted in electrical items such as televisions 'blowing up'.
Firefighters and police had descended on the street at around 5.30pm yesterday evening where it's believed a lightning strike ignited a home's roof. The roof is said to have been completely destroyed while the heavy rain then went on to flood the house.
During the height of the incident neighbouring residents were evacuated. Now a fund-raiser has been launched for the pensioner whose home was damaged last night.
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StokeonTrentLive reported today how a security camera captured the exact moment it is understood lightning struck causing a huge 'explosion' which rocked the neighbourhood. Hayley Johnson, who lives on the road, has launched a fund-raiser to help the owner of the property - and says her house 'shook' when the incident happened.
The 36-year-old, whose caring mum Sharon Johnson opened up her home for evacuated residents, said: "My mum lives opposite and as soon as it happened she rang me and said I had to get down there.
"It blew the plugs in my mum's house and blew up the television and fridge freezer. It was just like an explosion and my mum thought it was her house at first before she looked out saw the house. My whole house just shook as well."
Hayley said neighbours all rallied around with her mum inviting neighbours inside - including the woman and her son whose home was hit. Hayley, a local child minder, said: "She is a lovely woman and was distraught. Her relatives don't believe she has the relevant insurance either.
"Because of what happened to the roof the rain has then come in and flooded the property. She is just distraught that she doesn't have a home as it means everything to her. Her poor son was just in complete shock."
Residents were able to return to their homes at around 7pm while the pensioner and her son are staying with Hayley's mum. After previously supporting various causes Hayley has now launched an online appeal to help raise enough cash to get the woman's house repaired.
The mum-of-two said: "We don't think she has the insurance to cover it and we just want to help her. Her home is all she has.
"We have done fund-raisers in the past and now we all just want to help her."
Hayley says 62-year-old Sharon has been keen to help out. She said: "The lady and her son are staying with her. My mum is great and when it happened she invited everyone in for a cup of tea."
The incident came as the city was under a yellow thunderstorm warning. Today a yellow alert for rain is in place while tomorrow there is both a yellow and amber warning across the city.
To donate to the fund-raiser click here.