A 20-year-old north Shropshire man was left with facial burns today after the shed he entered to go to sleep burst into flames when he lit a cigarette.

Firefighters said the shed was being used to store butane gas cylinders and a barbecue, which could have caused the explosion when the man used his lighter.

The victim is believed to have been staying in the garden shed at his mother’s house in George Street, Whitchurch, because he was locked out.

He was also left suffering from shock and had burns to hands, firefighters said.

A nine-strong crew from Whitchurch Fire Station attended the scene just before 1am and used hoses to douse the flames before standing down after 45 minutes.

Mike Beach, crew manager at Whitchurch Fire Station, said: “The young man was sleeping in a shed where lots of equipment including a barbecue and butane gas cylinder were being stored.

“It’s possible the gas cylinder valve was partially open when he went to light his cigarette causing a flash explosion which set the shed on fire. It burned his face and hands and he said his injuries were stinging very badly.

“When we arrived the victim was trying to put out the fire with his neighbour’s hosepipe.”

Claire Thomas, for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the man was taken by ambulance to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where he was treated for burns to his hands.

Mr Beach warned smokers not to light up near anything flammable, especially in confined spaces.

He added: “Smoking is not the thing you want to be doing near anything flammable, particularly if there is gas in the air.”