A MAN has escaped with only light burns after pouring petrol on his bonfire to “get it going”, setting fire to himself and a set of patio doors in the process.

The fire brigade were called out to a house in the village of Honeybourne, near Evesham in Worcstershire at about 4pm on Sunday, June 3 - with the Jubilee celebrations in full swing across the country.

Station Commander Phil Griffiths, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said a man had “tried to get his bonfire going using some petrol but as he poured the fuel from the can.

“His clothes caught fire, causing him to drop the can and the fire to spread to the patio doors nearby.”

“Fortunately, the man had a fire extinguisher and a garden hose to hand which he used on himself to put out the fire.”

He suffered relatively minor burns during the incident and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Fire crews used one hose reel jet to extinguish the garden fire which resulted in significant damage to the patio doors at the back of the house.

Commander Griffiths said: “At this time of year, more people will be lighting a bonfire to get rid of their garden waste or choosing to cook and eat outside, and we want to be sure they stay safe as they do so.

“It’’s dangerous to use petrol or any form of accelerant to help get a bonfire or barbecue going, and we’d urge people never to do this.”

Further safety advice can be found at the fire brigade’s website www.hwfire.org.uk