Gas warning after toddler burned

The fire service said two gas rings had been turned on instead of one

An 18-month-old girl has been burned in an incident involving a gas cooker at a YHA youth hostel.

The girl received burns to her face and left hand and was treated by paramedics at the hostel in Capel Curig, Conwy.

She was later transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor by ambulance.

Fire crews were also called out to the scene at 1413 BST on Tuesday and officers later warned of the dangers of using gas cooking appliances.

The girl was discharged from hospital and returned to the hostel where her family, from Surrey, are continuing with their holiday.

Alan Williams, from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said that gas cooking appliances can be dangerous if they are not used with the utmost of care.

"In this incident, it appears that the young girl involved was with her parents in the kitchen area of the hostel preparing some food," he said.

"While turning on the appliance to cook, one of her parents seems accidentally to have turned on two gas rings instead of one, which caused too much gas in the atmosphere for a normal ignition.

"The surplus gas then appears to have caused a minor flashover, which caused the injuries to the young girl."

Duncan Simpson from the YHA said: "Our sympathy goes to the young girl, and to her family and the friends who were travelling with her.

"We are pleased that she was discharged from hospital, returned to YHA yesterday evening and today she is out sight seeing with her family.

"YHA takes the health and safety of guests seriously.

"The gas appliances at the property were serviced last week as part of routine arrangements. The correct procedures were followed and the incident will be investigated by our Health and Safety team as part of these procedures."