A TEENAGER accidentally burned his leg while trying to light a barbecue with petrol.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital by ambulance after the incident on Saturday in Shellbridge Road, Slindon, between Arundel and Chichester.

Firefighters from Chichester attended but the fire was out by the time they arrived.

Watch commander Pete Winsor said: “The message we want to get out there is this is the time of year when people are having barbecues.

“As a fire service we say, enjoy the barbecue, enjoy the summer, but not to light a fire with petrol or any other accelerant.

“It is a nasty combination which can cause really bad injuries.”

The boy suffered serious burns to his upper leg.