A SMOKE alarm alerted a couple to a fire after their house had been struck by lightning.

Phil and Helen Dodd, of George Street, Craghead, Stanley, County Durham, were woken by a loud bang at about 5.15am yesterday.

Mr Dodd said: "I would have gone back to sleep had it not been for the smoke alarm, which went off.

"When I smelled smoke, I thought the house was on fire and went to the back room with a fire extinguisher.

"There was smoke in the room which disappeared, but then came back again.

"I went outside and saw flames coming from the roof."

Mr Dodd alerted his neighbour Jean Liesicke, who shares a roof space, and called the fire brigade to tackle the blaze, which caused minor structural damage.

Mrs Dodd said: "We would have been toasted had it not been for the smoke alarm.

"My advice to anyone who does not have any is get one fitted."

Damon Liesicke said: "My mother was left quite shocked by the incident. She was awake watching the storm but was not aware that a fire had broken out in the roof space."