House fire 'started by lightning striking roof'

Several crews attended the fire in Dish Lane, Sutton on the Hill, on Thursday

Lightning striking the roof of a house has been found to be the most likely cause of a fire in Derbyshire.

Fire crews from Derbyshire and Staffordshire were called to a blaze at the property in Dish Lane, Sutton on the Hill, at about 13:10 BST on Thursday.

The fire, in the roof space of the three-storey building, was tackled over two and a half hours by crews using an aerial ladder platform.

A Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: "One male occupant was out of the building on arrival. No injuries have been reported."

A subsequent investigation has ruled the most probable cause to be accidental due to lighting striking the roof of the property, the fire service added.