BRAVE neighbours rushed to the aid of a pensioner who suffered burns to his face and hands following a caravan fire in Worcester.

The man, named locally as John Davis and understood to be in his 70s, was taken to hospital following the fire at his caravan in the garden of a house in Wakefield Close, Ronkswood, Worcester.

Neighbours rushed to his aid, working together to disconnect the gas, tear off cushions and rip up carpets to stop the flames spreading following the fire.

The fire service received the call at 3.23pm today (Monday).

Neighbours also placed his hands in cold water to help with the burns until an ambulance crew arrived.

The ambulance service reported that one male had suffered burns to his face, arms and chest after they received a call just after 3.15pm, taking him to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

The caravan was screened from view by a high hedge and a fence so it was difficult to gauge the extent of the damage.

Fire investigators were still at the scene when the Worcester News arrived.

No information has been supplied about his condition. A single fire crew from Worcester attended and the stop message came in at 3.54pm.

Jeremy Williams, 26-year-old father-of-two who lives in the same close said: "I was stood in the garden and we saw the smoke.

"I thought somebody was burning toast but then it smelled like burning carpet."

He said another neighbour, 42-year-old Terry Lowe, disconnected the gas in the caravan.

"I was ripping out all the cushions and the carpets. But he was more worried about where his dog had got to," he said.

"But the dog was comfy on the settee in the house."

Mr Lowe, a father-of-two of Go 2 Tez Removals, who also lives on the close said: "Jeremy said 'can you smell that?' I went down to have a look. It was unusual to see smoke coming from there.

"He was trying to shout for help. His hair was singed. I was just trying to calm him down. I rang the ambulance and the fire brigade. I was trying to disconnect the gas bottle.

"Everybody mucked in. It's a close-knit community."

Watch commander David Blinston said it was an accidental fire involving gas.

He said: "The neighbours have done a brilliant job in helping the occupier by disconnecting the gas and attempting to extinguish the fire. It's lucky he's got some good neighbours."

Vicky Clarke, 37, another neighbour said: "I hope he's okay. He's a lovely bloke. We look out for each other down here. I wish him a fast recovery."