A GARDEN shed was left in a smouldering heap after lightning struck a tree.

It struck at 1am and embers fell from the tree on top of the shed sending it up in flames in the garden of a house in Plantation Drive, Heaton.

Eye witnesses said the shed was involved in 100 per cent fire straight away, destroying bicycles and barbecue equipment being stored.

Firefighters from Fairweather Green tackled the blaze and had to spend one hour cooling down a gas cylinder that was also being kept in the shed until the scene was made safe.