A HAPPY camping holiday turned to horror when a gas flame flared up as a mother cooked a meal.

Gillian Pead, 37, of Bredon Avenue, Kidderminster, is recovering in hospital. She suffered extensive burns to her legs and arms after the accident in Wales.

Her sister Joanne Ward said her spirits were improving but she was still in a lot of pain after the accident which happened as she prepared a meal for her daughter and niece at the camp at Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire.

Mrs Ward said: "It all happened in a matter of seconds. However, she was able to jump out of the tent and get under a water tap nearby.

"Her arms and legs were burnt but luckily the burns are superficial. Thankfully, the girls are OK. They managed to jump out of the way and only suffered burns to their eyelashes.

"But it has been a very traumatic experience for them too."

Mrs Ward said her sister, who is a nurse at Kidderminster Hospital, was changing a gas bottle for the stove when it ignited.

She believes gas was seeping out of a valve on the bottle connection when it came into contact with the pilot light from the gas fridge.

After being in hospital in Wales, Mrs Pead is recovering in the burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham. Her condition is described as stable.

It is hoped she will be able to walk within two weeks after intensive physiotherapy.