TWO families whose homes were destroyed after being struck by lightning have spoken one week on from the freak event.

Two homes on Mercia Avenue in Charlton were gutted by a fire last Saturday morning, after the building was struck by lightning.

The flames engulfed the roof and saw fire engines from seven stations called to the scene.

Now, one week on from the tragic events, the families affected have spoken about the incident.

Angela King, who lives in one of the houses affected with her husband Michael and 14-year-old son Ethan, said: "We heard an almighty rumble of thunder overhead and then this noise that was literally the sound of a cannon going off.

"I was already awake and yelled 'we've been hit, we've been hit'," she told ITV Meridian.

"It flared up and caught hold so dramatically and just marched its way along the roof.

"That was it, as soon as it started on my property I couldn't watch my house burn to the ground. I can't watch it."

Speaking of the last week, Angela said: "It has been so dramatic. It seems entirely surreal that we have lost our house and everything, like my mum's stuff that I've kept.

"Sixty-year-old Christmas baubles that people wouldn't have think mattered so much and they do.

"It doesn't seem real that it is gone.

"When we drive up the road and see the house as it is, it is hard to think that that is our house.

"Just how everybody has supported us all the way through. When somebody shows you that wonderful kindness that makes the next step easier.

"It is a step closer to getting back to normal so I can't thank everybody enough for just their kindness.

"There are so many people to thank."

A fundraiser, set up by another Mercia Avenue resident, Tayla Moody, has so far raised almost £6,000, already smashing its initial target.

The lightning bolt hit the home of sisters Diane and Rosemary between 3.30 and 4am on the Saturday morning. The pair had lived there for more than 25 years.

Diane told ITV: "We heard the neighbours shouting an banging and screaming at the door 'come on, get out, get out'.

"I came out in just my pyjamas, I had no shoes and no slippers.

"Now I realise how lucky we were to come out of that place alive, and not hurt in any way at all. It is a miracle no one was hurt."

Sister Rosemary continued: "The next thing we know people were bringing out trainers for us, blankets, chairs to sit on."

The Advertiser previously spoke to Michael Riley, 55, who lives in one of the affected houses.

He was emotional as he said: “It was like a cannon going off. Angie could smell smoke. I came out to the drive and I could see next door was on fire.

“We banged on the door to get them up.”

He continued: “It was adrenaline really, because it was only little flames at first and then we stood watching it spread and you can’t do anything.”

He said now it is just “a waiting game” to see the extent of the damage to their home.