A LUXURY home in west Wirral, which had undergone an 18-month refurbishment, was almost destroyed by a blaze – possibly caused by a lightning strike.

The fire, which broke out during the early hours of yesterday, caused extensive damage to the property, which overlooks the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, in Meols Drive, between Hoylake and West Kirby.

The road was temporarily closed while Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service brought the flames under control.

A builder who had been involved in the renovation said he understood one of the owners had originally planned to sleep in the loft – the area worst hit by the blaze – but had decided not to.

He said: “It’s just as well he didn’t. It looks bad, but it’s even worse at the back.

“We’ve been working on it for about 18 months.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed the house was unoccupied as it was undergoing extensive refurbishment.

Incident commander Mark Thomas said the blaze “caused severe damage to the first floor, ground floor and the roof has been lost”.