Lightning damages South Yardley house

Apr 15 2009 By Kat Keogh

LIGHTNING blew holes in the roof of a house and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage as a super-storm rolled across the West Midlands today.

It lashed the region with rain as the skies became black with lightning forking across the whole region.

One lightning strike blew holes in the roof of a house in South Yardley.

The strike caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the property belonging to Janet and Bill Groves in Kennerley Road at about 7.30am.

Mrs Groves, aged 52, said she had just got to work at B&Q in Stechford when she heard from Bill, aged 57.

“He is normally very calm in a crisis but said it was bad, so I knew it had to be and came straight home.

“Some plaster came down on Bill who was checked out by a paramedic. He is badly shaken, but extremely lucky and relieved that he is okay.

“Bill is a painter and decorator and had taken a week off work to paint the outside of the house.

“He was going to finish it off this morning but decided not to when he heard the bad weather.

“I can see the sky through the roof. It’s going to be a long job to put it right.”