A LIGHTNING bolt which struck a double garage sparked a massive blaze, it has emerged.

Firefighters rushed to the scene following reports of a fire at a home in Justice Close, Thatcham.

When they arrived, shortly after 4.30pm on Monday, May 21, it immediately became clear a lightning bolt had struck the garage.

The resulting blaze had began to spread to a neighbouring property and firefighters doused the flames with water.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue service said: "Thames Valley Fire Control Service received multiple reports of a fire at a garage, following a lightning strike in Thatcham.

"Two crews from Newbury Fire Station and one crew from Dee Road Fire Station were sent to the property in Justice Close.

"On arrival, firefighters found a double garage on fire, which was spreading towards an adjoining property. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using two hose reels."

The residents were not home at the time of the blaze, so firefighters had to force their way in to the smoke-filled property.

Steve Beard, who attended the incident, thanked eagle-eyed neighbours who spotted the inferno.

He said: "The damage to the garages was considerable and without prompt action from the crews and members of the public that reported it, the fire would have spread to adjoining properties.

“Although lightning strikes don’t happen very often, when they do, they can initiate severe damage and rapid fire spread.

“Following a fire of this type, we would recommended a professional checks the integrity and safety of any systems that may have been affected.”