The owners of the Melksham house struck by lightning in last week's storm are returning home from holiday in Greece tomorrow to see the devastation for the first time.

Sylvia and Terry Cook's home in Littlejohn Avenue was left uninhabitable by the strike so they decided to remain at their holiday home in Polichnitos, Lesvos, where at least they had a roof over their head.

Mrs Cook said: “At first we felt we had to get back instantly, but there was nothing we could have done. At least we’ve had time to come to terms with it, make some contacts and start to mentally sift through what we may or may not be able to salvage.

“We're still waking up after a few hours sleep, thinking about it all, but we have a home and bed here and can try to relax at the end of the day over an ouzo or beer.”

Scaffolding and a cover will be put up to enable work to begin to clear the rubble.

The roof and first-floor ceiling collapsed, but firefighters attending the blaze that followed the lightning strike at 10pm last Thursday were able to move downstairs furniture into the conservatory.