A MAN was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after an explosion threw him up in the air when he put petrol on a bonfire.

The man had been burning rubbish at a house in Wood Clough Platts in Brierfield, at around 11pm on Monday when the incident happened.

Fire chiefs said the man tried to increase the intensity of the fire by putting the petrol into a metal container, which then exploded and threw him backwards.

Neil Hardiman, watch manager at Nelson Fire Station, who attended the incident, said the man was treated before being taken to hospital.

He said: “The young man had decided to accelerate the fire by pouring petrol into a metal container which flashed, throwing him backwards, resulting in a possible broken leg. He was treated by paramedics on site and taken to hospital.”

Fire officers warned people not to put fuel or flammable liquids onto fires or barbecues, and to try and avoid burning rubbish.

Mr Hardiman said: “We would advise people to never fuel fire with flammable liquids.

“They should also consider taking all rubbish to refuse sites rather than trying to burn it themselves and consider the environment.”

One resident of Wood Clough Platts said: “I saw the fire engine and ambulance arrive at around 11.30pm.

“There looked to be quite a lot of activity going and there did seem to be some concern about a fire or someone who had been injured.”