An elderly Devizes man was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol this morning after setting himself alight in a freak accident.

Herbert Goodship, 85, from Elcombe Close, Devizes, was apparently making breakfast at around 9.45am when his shirt caught alight.

A double-manned ambulance and a rapid-response vehicle were soon on the scene and the air ambulance at police headquarters in London Road was put on standby.

Mr Goodship was taken by ambulance to the helipad from where he was flown to Frenchay for further assessment and treatment.

His family were too upset to comment.