A gin distiller has suffered "critical burns" after an "awful accident" at a Sheffield pub.

Firefighters, paramedics, police officers and even the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew rushed to Chapeltown just after midday following reports of a gas explosion at a premises in Station Road.

Police confirmed that a man, 33, suffered burns in the blast and had to be taken to hospital with the premises evacuated as a precaution.

The explosion happened at Sheffield Distillery which is at the back of The Commercial in Chapeltown.

The pub's landlord Paul Menzies said the distiller was taken to Northern General Hospital and is due to be transferred to a specialist burns unit in Wakefield.

Explaining what happened, Mr Menzies said: "The distiller was down there creating some gin as that is what he does and there was a problem with the still.

"We don't know at this stage what happened but some alcohol sprayed out in the still and it caught fire and he has suffered some burn injuries.

The air ambulance landed on playing fields in Chapeltown after a man suffered burns in a gas explosion

"It wasn't very nice. His hands were quite burnt and I think his T-shirt caught fire so he had to pull it off over his head and that has caused burns to his face."

Mr Menzies downplayed the idea of there being an explosion but said the still malfunction was an "awful accident".

The premises was evacuated as a precaution at the time and Mr Menzies says no one will be allowed back in the distillery until it has been inspected by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A spokeswoman for police said: "Emergency services were called at around 12.05pm today (May 26) following reports of an explosion at a business premises on Station Road, Chapeltown.

"A 33-year-old man inside the premises was taken to hospital to be treated for critical burns injuries.

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"The premises was evacuated as a precaution but there is no risk to the wider community."