The Melksham couple whose house was hit by lightning have returned to confront the devastation left by the fire.

Terry and Sylvia Cook face another anxious week before they are able to gain access inside to see what possessions can be salvaged.

A delay with scaffolding being put up has meant repairs and a full assessment of the damage caused is still yet to be confirmed.

Mrs Cook, 62, said: “I wish that, as we expected, we could have been shifting through stuff today. We don’t know what we’ve got in there that’s the worst thing.

“There’s nothing worth a fortune, there’s only little things, but they are all special.”

Mr and Mrs Cook have lived in the property in Littlejohn Avenue, Melksham, for nine years but have been told it may take until summer next year before they can move back in.

They are currently staying in temporary accommodation while they look for somewhere to rent as the repairs are carried out.

The pair cut short their holiday in Greece to return after word reached them about the fire and they were able to use Twitter as a “life line” to keep informed about what was happening whilst they made arrangements to come home.

The lightning struck the property’s roof in the storms two weeks ago and fire officers at the scene believe it 'clung on' to solar panels which then ignited.

The attic is believed to have suffered most of the damage destroying books, photographs and the couple’s retirement project, a model railway.

Mr Cook, 66, said: “Even the insurance assessor wouldn’t go beyond the front hall way because the internal walls might fall down.

“We thought the first floor had gone right through from what they originally said, but the floor is still there it is just the ceiling that is down, but the assessor did come back to us and said don’t get your hopes up.

“There’s things that are still going to be very upsetting but what can you do? The Greeks have a famous expression ‘ti na kánoume’ which literally means ‘what can we do’.”

The couple have been together for 23 years and have praised the fire brigade for saving sentimental items, including their wedding album full of pictures of their special day which took place in Greece 12 years ago.

Firefighters were also able to move the downstairs furniture into the conservatory to protect it and photo albums which the couple thought they had lost of deceased relatives, including Mrs Cook’s mother, also escaped damage.

Mrs Cook said: “At a time like this it’s nice to look at old things, the ones we have got.”