A GARDENER got the shock of his life when he was nearly struck by lightning. David Banbury, 47, from Letchworth GC was working on a garden in Maxwell Road in Stevenage during the storm on Friday. The landscape gardener told The Comet: I was tidying up t

A GARDENER got the shock of his life when he was nearly struck by lightning.

David Banbury, 47, from Letchworth GC was working on a garden in Maxwell Road in Stevenage during the storm on Friday.

The landscape gardener told The Comet: "I was tidying up the drive when it started to rain. I just wanted to finish what I was doing when I heard what sounded like a gas explosion above me. Then there was a massive flash of lightning by me and it felt like a ghost walked through me. I felt like something went through me.

"My mobile and my watch both stopped at this time. For the rest of the day I was walking round like a zombie.

"Then I noticed that the lightning must have cracked a two-inch thick paving slab in half - that made me realise how close I came to being killed.

"The lightning was just 12 inches away from me. I think someone must be looking over me.

"My attitude towards thunderstorms has now changed and I would feel nervous if I was out in a storm in the future.