A FAMILY are counting the cost after lightning struck their home.

Adam and Annette Rigby were out at a children's party when the bolt hit their terrace house in Wigan.

But eldest daughter Rebecca, 16, was using a computer at the house in Hodges Street when the lightning shot down the aerial and blew up the TV.

It caused a small blaze to break out in the rear downstairs room, which Rebecca quickly put out before Adam, 35, arrived home and called the fire brigade. Wigan was hit by a major thunderstorm at teatime yesterday as most of Greater Manchester basked in glorious sunshine.

Rebecca's mum Annette, 39, said: "I just feel very lucky that Rebecca is okay and that she managed to put out the fire.

"I also feel lucky that we've got very good friends and neighbours, who helped us afterwards."

Adam, a commercial property lawyer, and Annette, who works in Wigan council's environment services department, were at a church hall celebrating the birthday of their daughter Charlotte, 7.

They dashed home after getting a surprise phone call to say the house had been hit - and arrived to find a hole in the roof and their chimney pot smashed in the front garden.

Adam said: "We hadn't even expected it to rain. The lightning caused the aerial to come out of the back of the TV and it set fire to the carpet.

"Thankfully, Rebecca managed to put it out in time, but the TV and computer aren't working.

"Rebecca is still shaken up by what's happened."