Family left ‘devastated’ after lightning strike

A man whose house was set on fire by a lightning strike in East Dunbartonshire has said his family are “devastated”.

Frank Malcolm was watching television with his wife and two children at their home in Woodilee, near Lenzie, when the roof burst into flames on Saturday night.

They thought it was a power cut at first and only realised the property was on fire when neighbours alerted them.

Mr Malcolm said the damage means they have “lost the whole house”.

Pictures posted on social media sites showed flames leaping from the roof of the property.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene at about 5:45pm on Saturday. No-one was injured. Mr Malcolm, a surveyor, said: “A neighbour knocked on the door and told us to get out as the house was on fire.”

He said the damage was extensive, with everything upstairs in the property “gone”.

He added: “We’ve lost the whole house.”

The family had only moved into the property seven months ago and are now staying temporarily with a neighbour.

The lightning strike came as parts of Scotland were struck by extreme weather including hailstorms, torrential downpours and flash flooding.