St Odulph's Church, Pillaton, lightning hole repaired

During the storm, on 22 January, blocks smashed through the church's roof and lodged in the bell tower

Some of the granite blocks weighed up to half a tonne

The church suffered major structural damage in the strike

Parishioner Tony Rowe said repairs had cost £370,000

Mr Rowe said the first service would be held on 10 November which would give the plaster several months to dry

A church which was left with a "huge hole" after being struck by lightning has had its roof and tower repaired.

A pinnacle on St Odulph's Church, Pillaton, in Cornwall, was hit during a "tremendous" thunder storm in January.

Blocks of granite weighing up to half a tonne smashed through the church's roof and lodged in the bell tower of the Grade I listed building.

Parishioner Tony Rowe said repairs had cost £370,000 and the first service would be held on 10 November.

Mr Rowe, who has been involved in the restoration, said the majority of the money had come from an insurance company, with parishioners raising about £12,000.

He said: "Lots of plastering needs to be done, the church needs a clean through and faults to the electrics need sorting.

"Lime plaster needs three months to dry so we can't ring the bells until it's dry."

He added they were hoping to create a granite plaque which would include a lightning bolt to remember the strike.