A 21-year-old Bradford man was in hospital with severe burns today after he caught fire while burning rubbish in his garden.

Mark Halliday, of Cawood Haven, Buttershaw, was attempting to get the fire going when he accidentally soaked himself in petrol.

The fire flashed back and set his clothes alight. Mr Halliday's girlfriend heard him screaming and grabbed a quilt to smother the flames.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary last night with 38 per cent burns to his head, hands and body and later transferred to Withington Hospital in Greater Manchester. His condition today was described as stable.

Firefighters from Odsal were first on the scene at 10.30pm. Sub-officer Paul McNamara said: "When we arrived the fire was out. The young man was sitting upright in the garden in agony. He was in a severe state of shock.

"He was attempting to burn some bedroom furniture and had accidentally soaked himself in petrol.

"He was wearing a tracksuit, which melted into his burns and made things worse. He suffered burns to his hands, head, face, abdomen, back and groin.

"We covered him in specialist burns blankets until the paramedics arrived."

Mr McNamara praised Mr Halliday's girlfriend and his sister's boyfriend, who was also in the house at the time, for their quick thinking.

"Mr Halliday was trying to put the flames out by rolling around the garden but the fire had taken hold.

"Fortunately his girlfriend was in the house and was alerted by the screams. She alerted the emergency services and grabbed a quilt to smother the flames."

And he sent out a safety warning to anyone thinking of burning rubbish in their garden. "I urge them to contact the Council, who will come and collect household waste.

"And I would remind people never to use any kind of flammable liquid to accelerate a fire."

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