A YOUNG boy suffered serious burns to his hands when a "fire walking" stunt went wrong.

Eight-year-old Leroy Potts tripped as he ran across a 6ft-wide pile of hot ashes behind his home in Charles Street, Nelson.

He managed to scramble from the ashes but was left with burns to his hands and knees.

Firefighters poured cold water onto his injuries until paramedics arrived and took him to Burnley General Hospital for treatment.

Sub-officer Roy Waddington, of Nelson fire station, said: "It shows how dangerous it can be to play with fire. We always warn children not to try and run through fires or even play near them. It is so easy to trip and fall into the flames and it's very dangerous.

"This lad was running through the ashes when he's caught his foot on something and fallen. He was lucky it wasn't worse but even so he's going to be in pain for a few days."

Leroy was discharged after treatment at the hospital. His mum declined to comment.

The incident happened at 9.15pm on Sunday.

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