A COUPLE had a remarkable escape when lightning struck "like a fireball" at their home near York.

Peter and Trisha Allison emerged unscathed after part of their ceiling collapsed when the bolt of lightning hit the building, throwing roof tiles across the road and path outside their house in Sutton-on-the-Forest.

Peter and Trisha had settled down to watch television at their home, Senior's Cottage, when they heard an almighty crash at about 11.30pm.

Their terrified dogs, Holly and Ben, began tearing around the house, and the couple opened their front door to find shattered roof tiles strewn by their home, the road and footpath.

Mrs Allison, 55, said today: "The lightning and thunder were absolutely terrible.

"There was a strike that looked almost like a fireball and then an almighty power surge.

"I didn't realise it had hit us, I went to find a torch and tried to trip the switch, but we saw all the tiles outside and then we saw the big hole in the ceiling.

"It was so smoky and horrible, it was frightening. It would have been dreadful if someone had been injured."

Fire crews attended the house in Main Street to inspect the damage to the property.

Mr and Mrs Allison have been left with a hole in their study ceiling and damaged plaster above their spare bedroom.

Mr Allison, 71, said his wife had been very shaken by the experience.

He said: "On reflection I do feel quite lucky. Although the smoke was not dark, it was acrid and our neighbours saw it moving down the street.

"My wife was shaken and I tried to calm her down. It's come at a really inconvenient time as we've got guests staying for seven weeks."

A fire crew carried out an inspection of the property today.

Updated: 14:13 Monday, June 02, 2003