The Daily Populous Thursday September 26th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by stokesentinel.co.uk and submitted by rarely-redditing

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Roofers, electricians and plasterers are working for free to repair a pensioner's home after it was hit by lightning. And caring families have donated more than £4,500 as efforts continue to fully restore the semi-detached Longton house.

StokeonTrentLive reported how lightning struck the Bambury Street home on Saturday evening during a night of extreme weather in the Potteries. At the height of the incident police and firefighters cordoned off a part of the street, evacuated neighbours - while families also reported their electrical items had 'blown up'.

Meanwhile a security camera captured the moment lightning struck the house sparking a huge explosion - and wiping out the roof. The ensuing heavy rain then poured through the pensioner's home flooding it.

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But in an incredible series of generosity - typical of the people of Stoke-on-Trent - the community wasn't about to stand by and let the elderly woman even attempt to pick up the pieces of the devastating episode. Neighbour Sharon Johnson has put up the woman and her son - while Sharon's caring daughter Hayley immediately launched an online fund-raiser.

As news of the incident spread across the Potteries, tradespeople and suppliers have stepped in to restore the property to how it was before the lightning strike. Roofer Ian Inskip may be refusing to accept any praise for his efforts - but the 59-year-old has not only secured free supplies and fitted around 400 roof tiles - but he's drafted in electricians and plasters.

And in a heart-warming turn of events, they are all working for free as city-based suppliers are giving them the items they need for nothing. Ian, of Longton, who runs Inskip and Son Roofing and Building Contractors, said: "I just received a call to come and look at a roof. The address I was given was opposite and I said I was here about a leaking roof - they then pointed the roof out!

"The elderly woman who lived there told me she didn't have insurance - and that was it, I just wanted to help. I have always had a soft spot for old people and if it was my mum I'd want it all fixing."

Ian, along with his team of Ryan Thorley and John Heath, got to work. They secured 400 roof tiles from Whieldon Road-based Gardiners Building Materials with other suppliers such as Huws Gray in Normacot and Horton Building Plastics handing over materials for nothing.

Thanks to Ian's years of experience he's been able to dip into his contacts book to secure an electrician - Michael Finney, who locals know from his DJ stints at the Old Sal - along with plasterers. He said: "The scaffolders have been out for free and A1 Skips dropped a skip off within an hour of hearing about it.

"I am not doing this for any credit or publicity - I am busy enough! I just wanted to help and get this woman back into her home as that's all she wants."

Ian says the lightning hit a gas pipe which triggered the explosion heard all across the neighbourhood. The flooding damage has been extensive inside the property but work is underway to fix that - which will include all the ceilings being replaced.

It hasn't just been tradespeople helping out. Ian said: "A guy who lives in the area had finished work, pulled up and asked if he could help. We said we could do with someone loading the skip - and that was it, he stayed all day helping."

The damage caused would run into thousands of pounds to fix, but once Ian and all the other dedicated workers are finished it will be ready to be redecorated. The donations in the ongoing online appeal could then be used to replace all the things that have been destroyed by the flooding.

Work is ongoing at the home due to the extent of the damage caused by the freak incident. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, who attended the scene with police and paramedics, had put sheets inside the property to try and minimise further damage.

Fire crews say an external gas pipe had ruptured - with gas and electricity in the area subsequently shut off. David Steele, group manager, said: "Crews worked diligently at the scene of this incident to minimise the disruption and ensure those in the area were kept safe.

“The lightning strike caused significant damage to the roof of the property that it hit. We’ve put sheets in the building to try and minimise the damage to the inside while repair work takes place."

Meanwhile Hayley, who organised the online fund-raiser has been blown away by the response from the likes of Ian. The 36-year-old, a local child minder, said: "It's been incredible - I cannot believe the work that has already been done. It's been a whirlwind of people wanting to help - and being so fast to help!

"We are so grateful to people doing the work and all those people who have donated money. The house will all need decorating and lots of things will have to be replaced. I just cannot thank Ian and all the others enough."

Meanwhile Hayley says the work going on at the property has lifted the spirts of the elderly woman and her son who were left devastated as they surveyed the scene left on Saturday evening. Hayley said: "She is so much better now and she has been in really high spirits thanks to what everyone has done."

To donate to the fund-raiser click here.

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Gadgetman_1 on September 26th, 2024 at 11:22 UTC »

Check out Flawless Cleaning Services - YouTube

David_W_J on September 26th, 2024 at 09:49 UTC »

Nice to hear "feel good" news for a change.

(and yes, I do know that this is in r/UpliftingNews!)