Five people have been injured after a family home was struck by lightning before bursting into flames during a thunderstorm.<br /><br />Fire crews were called to battle the blaze which broke out in the Sheldon area of Birmingham at around 11am today (Mon).<br /><br />Dramatic photos show how almost the entire roof was decimated by the inferno which tore through the semi-detached property in Greenvale Avenue.<br /><br />Three women and two men were treated by medics at the scene - including one female casualty who was taken to the city's Heartlands Hospital.<br /><br />Luckily, the occupants of the property were out at the time but said they were 'gutted' by the damage which also destroyed sentimental items in the loft.<br /><br />The homeowner, who did not wish to be named, said: "We weren't there when it happened so we're obviously pretty lucky but we're absolutely gutted<br /><br />"All the kids stuff is there. It's mainly sentimental stuff that has been ruined and we now have to wait for the council to help s move. <br /><br />"Thank God nobody was in the house at the time. I got a call from my dad to ask if we were inside and I was in Poundland at the time. He said 'your house in on fire'.<br /><br />"I have been told I can't go in the property yet because there's structural damage and the bedroom ceiling has collapsed."<br /><br />Neighbours reported hearing a loud 'bomb-like' explosion which set off car alarms as storms swept across the city this morning. <br /><br />One local added: "We're right by Birmingham Airport so I thought a plane had crashed. <br /><br />"It was like a bomb had gone off, car alarms were blaring everywhere, I've never heard anything like it.<br /><br />"The fire service were here quick and I think have managed to stop it spreading to the main part of the house. The roof has been destroyed though.<br /><br />"I think those treated were from a neighbouring property as the owners of the house struck weren't in, I believe."<br /><br />A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "At around 10.50am, we were called to reports of a suspected lightning strike at Greenvale Avenue and Mapledene Road in Sheldon. <br /><br />"Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were sent to the scene. <br /><br />"There were five patients requiring assessment: three women and two men. <br /><br />"One woman was treated for injuries not believed to be serious and conveyed to Heartlands Hospital. <br /><br />"The other patients were treated for minor injuries and given self-care advice before being discharged at the scene."<br /><br />Severe weather warnings for thunderstorms have been issued for large parts of the UK after temperatures soared this weekend. <br /><br />Yellow warnings are in place for northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with forecasters warning the storms may cause disruption and damage to buildings.<br /><br />West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service have also been contacted for comment.
