A three-year-old boy and his father suffered 40 per cent burns when fire ripped through their tent after a gas cylinder exploded.

The family had been attempting to change the cylinder inside their tent alongside the River Wharfe in Pool when the explosion occurred shortly before 10pm yesterday.

The boy's mother, who also suffered burns to her hands, managed to drive the family to the nearby Shell garage in Pool in a desperate bid for help.

Staff at the garage today spoke of their struggle to look after the injured family before ambulance and fire crews arrived at the scene.

The boy, who was the most seriously injured, had serious burns to his legs and face and his father, 35, had burns to his legs and arms.

All three were taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance.

Brenda and Ray Hoyle, who run the Shell garage in Pool, today explained how the family had arrived shortly before closing time.

They offered first aid after receiving instructions from a 999 operator.

Mr Hoyle, 60, said: "They had staggered in just before we were closing and they were in an awful state. It appears that they were changing a gas cylinder when it exploded and it seemed that the child and the father had been closest to it as they suffered the worst injuries.

"The father collapsed on the floor of the garage and then slumped over a fridge. He was drifting in and out of consciousness. The skin was falling off his hands. It was absolutely terrible."

Mrs Hoyle, 58, added: "The young lad's face was black and badly burned around his mouth. The ambulance crew cut off his trousers and he was badly burned on his legs as well. He was going into shock, sobbing, shaking and asking for his mum.

"It was awful. We did everything we could but we felt so helpless. They just seem in such a terrible state."

Sub Officer Paul Holdsworth, of Rawdon fire station, said a fire investigation team would be searching an area close to Castley Lane, near Arthington, in an attempt to find the remains of the tent today.