A WIDEMOUTH couple are 'lucky to be alive', after a bolt of lightning struck their property on Friday morning.

Claire and Colin Gowing's home at Box's Shop, suffered extensive damage when lightning hit a tree; the current travelling along a fence before disrupting the house's power source, at around 11.30am.

A large hole was left in the garden where the bolt struck, while a section of their fencing was also blown away during the storm.

But the real destruction was caused inside where a number of explosions left Claire and Colin extremely distressed.

Their daughter, Debbie, said: "There was a huge flash of lightning, which blew all the power points in the house. There were wires and cables hanging everywhere."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.