A FARMER is in a stable condition after he was airlifted to hospital after a gas cylinder exploded seriously injuring him.

Richard Frankland, of Hill Top Farm, Grewelthorpe, near Masham, North Yorkshire, was hurt in the explosion at his farm.

A gas cylinder in a work shed he was in blew up on Saturday, October 23, around 5pm blowing off the roof.

Mr Frankland is thought to have suffered serious leg injuries and he was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

His son is also thought to have been in the shed at the time but he escaped injury.

The blast blew debris over nearby roof tops to fall in the middle of the village but without injuring anyone else.

Emergency services from Ripon and Masham and the air ambulance were sent and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been called in.

A HSE spokesman said: "We are investigating the case with the help of the police and we don’t have any other details as yet."

The injured man is now at Leeds General Infirmary and he has a wife and two children but they were to upset to comment yesterday.