A FAMILY whose house was struck by lightning have spoken of their surprise - and joy - that their 15-year-old cat survived the ensuing blaze.

Raymond Lee and partner Leigh Iles were devastated to find their home, in Dean Park, Ferryhill, on fire after a lightning bolt hit their roof during the storms yesterday afternoon.

The Northern Echo reported how, fortunately, the couple, along with their three daughters, Katie, seven, Anna, six and Aimee, three, were not at home at the time but feared for their much-loved pet moggie, Alan, who was inside.

Today (July 2), the family spoke of their relief that the feline had managed to escape as firefighters kicked down their front door to get inside.

Mr Lee, 34, said: “I got home about 4pm because I got a call to say the house was on fire – it was horrible because initially I was concerned and then realised that at that time there should not have been anyone in and that’s the most important thing, that no one was hurt.

“We don’t know the exact circumstances of where Alan was but when we found him he was black from the smoke and cowering underneath a bush - he was really upset.

“All his fur was falling out and I have never seen him like that before.”

Mr Lee managed to pick Alan up and put him into the back of his car before a neighbour lent him a cat carrier to take him to Ms Iles’ parents’ house, where the family are now staying.

“He seemed fine this morning but he was our big concern because the girls love him – they have grown up with him because we’ve had him since he was six weeks old – he was out first child,” he added.

He said the family are now going to concentrate on rebuilding their lives following the incident and are trying to stay positive despite the fire brigade having to revisit them this morning (July 2) when the roof started to smoulder again.

They said they’d received a lot of support from the community and had even been given books by the local Broom Cottages Primary and Nursery School, where all their children have attended.

“The whole of the upstairs is wrecked and downstairs is damaged with all the water but we are just thankful for the support from family and neighbours,” Mr Lee added.

Ms Iles, 35, said: “I’m just thankful everybody is OK – it’s just bricks and mortar at the end of the day.”