LIGHTNING caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when it set fire to the garage of a family home.

The bolt struck Green End in Mostyn Road, Upton late on Monday, igniting electrical cables, causing a blaze that destroyed the adjoining double garage.

The homeowner reported hearing “an almighty bang” shortly after 11pm as the lightning struck and both the electricity and phone lines went off.

A clock on nearby outbuildings, which stopped at 11.08pm, showed the exact time of the strike.

Throughout the night, around 30 firefighters and six fire engines from Chester, Ellesmere Port, Tarporley and Frodsham were at the scene.

Robert Kershaw, of Chester fire station’s Green Watch, said: “Water jets were set up to cool propane gas cylinders stored in the garage to prevent them from exploding, and the area was cordoned off.

“Valves on the cylinders had melted and they were releasing gas and the fire had to be contained away from an oil tank at the rear of the house.

“We had to keep cooling the cylinders for several hours and make sure the porch and adjoining areas were safe and there were no embers in the roof before we left the scene.

“It was past midnight by the time the fire was extinguished and 4am by the time the area had been made safe.”

The house, which the family have lived in for 26 years, was bought from Chester Zoo.

Thankfully, the door joining the garage to the house was bricked up a number of years ago so the fire did not spread to the interior of the house and no-one was hurt.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for the contents of the garage, which included a go-cart that was completely destroyed.

allison.dickinson