Lightning strike damages 19th-century church spire

A STEEPLE on a 19th-century church was badly damaged by a lightning strike yesterday.

Firefighters raced to St Stephen's and West Parish Church in Broughty Ferry, Tayside, after reports of smoke emerging from it.

Police were forced to cordon off surrounding streets, amid fears that the steeple was about to topple on to the ground. Firefighters used thermal-imaging equipment to work out whether there was any danger of the building catching fire.

The emergency services were at the scene until 9pm . However, inspections by council building safety experts later found that the steeple had suffered extensive structural damage.

It was later handed over to staff at the church.

The church, which was designed by Thomas S Robertson, dates from 1871.