A 42-year-old man was taken to hospital today after he was impaled on a 6ft long spike in an accident at a meat processing plant.

Firefighters called to the Malton Bacon Factory, at Norton, North Yorkshire, used a power saw to cut through the metal bar embedded in the man's shoulder.

They reduced its length to 18 inches so he could be put in an ambulance.

The casualty was then taken to York District Hospital where it is believed the spike, which was embedded three inches into his back, was removed by doctors.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire Service said they were called by paramedics who had themselves been alerted at 9.36am.

He said crews were able to cut the spike down to size and followed the ambulance to York in case their hydraulic equipment would be needed by doctors, which it was not.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said she had no details of the man's condition but understood he had not lost a great deal of blood and the spike had missed major organs.

She said he was conscious throughout his ordeal.

A police spokesman said the Health and Safety Executive has begun an investigation.