Sheffield businessman offers services for free to family whose house was set alight when struck by lightning

Richard Oxley, who runs Floor Care UK, has said that he will do any cleaning of floors and carpets that may be needed after the roof of the house was damaged and the fire was put out by hoses.

More than 20 firefighters were deployed to the three-storey property on Millhouses Lane, Millhouses, after it was struck by a dramatic lightning bolt at around 7.30pm yesterday.

Mr Oxley, who grew up in Millhouses and now lives in Mosborough, said: “I thought it would be nice if the community could rally round the family who live in the house and help them out.

“I thought I would offer my services in case any water had got in through the damaged roof, or had damaged the floors when firefighters put out the fire.

“This will have had a big impact on the family. It would be bad at the best of times, and the times we are in at the moment make it worse.”

The lightning strike sparked a blaze and smoke could be seen billowing across the city as firefighters extinguished the flames.

Damage was restricted to the roof of the house.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said five crews and a turntable ladder were sent to the house in the Millhouses and that everyone inside at the time escaped unharmed.