Lightning sets fire to houses in England as storms bring end to heatwave

The lightning strike ignited a fire (Barrie Austen/PA)

A witness has described how his neighbours escaped unharmed after a lightning strike caused the roof to collapse and flames to spread through two semi-detached houses.

A 70-year-old woman was assessed by paramedics after the strike severely damaged the two houses in Mercia Avenue, Andover, Hampshire, on Saturday morning.