A man in his 50s was taken to hospital with life threatening burns after a fire in the Honiton area yesterday evening.

Police and the fire service were called just after 5pm on June 2, following reports of a fire and concern for the welfare of a man at an address in Feniton.

Initial reports suggested a man was possibly trapped inside the property and potentially in possession of a samurai sword.

On arrival officers located a knife outside the address.

A man in his 50s was located a short distance from the property with life-threatening burns and the ambulance, along with the air ambulance attended.

He was treated at the scene and taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, before being transferred to the specialist Southmead Hospital burns unit in Bristol, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

The fire is being treated as arson and police enquiries continue.

Image one courtesy of Lewis Clarke.

Image two courtesy of Lee Boardman.