A HOUSE on the new Chapelford estate in Great Sankey was struck by lightning yesterday afternoon in a freak weather accident.

The lightning bolt hit the chimney of a house on Savannagh Place, off Baltimore Gardens, at around 4.15pm demolishing the stack and sending bricks tumbling on to a small extension to the house below.

A car parked on the next door neighbour's drive was also damaged by falling debris, smashing the back window and denting the bonnet.

The immediate area has been cordoned off by police and firefighters were at the scene for around three hours.

Crew manager Rick Aldous, of Red Watch at Warrington Fire Station, said: "There was a little bit of smoke in the upstairs of the house after the lightning struck but there was no fire.

"The occupants of the house have had to evacuate as the property is not structurally sound."

It is thought that the occupants, who were not at home at the time of the accident, only moved into the property a week ago.