Lightning destroys village house

The fire spread from an oil tank to the house

A house was destroyed when it was struck by lightning during storms on Wednesday night.

It is thought the fire started when a bolt of lightning hit an oil tank used to heat the detached house in Fen Street, Hopton, in Suffolk.

The occupants managed to escape unhurt. Seven crews from Norfolk and Suffolk were called to tackle the fire.

A Suffolk fire service spokesman said the fire spread quickly from the tank to the house.