A Hereford business boss badly burned by a gas blast should soon be back at his desk.

An explosion at Express Gas Services (EGS) on Saturday morning caught Mike Parton full in the face and set part of his Whitecross Road premises alight.

Leading Firefighter Colin Taylor, of Hereford Fire Station, said the burning of caustic soda for cleaning had apparently ignited leaking gas vapours.

After initial assistance at the scene, Mr Parton was rushed to an air ambulance helicopter that had landed near Hereford TA Centre.

From here he was flown out for specialist treatment at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

On Tuesday EGS staff said 'the boss' was on his feet and expected back in about a week.

l A sticky situation faced firefighters called to the McDonald's restaurant in Hereford early on Tuesday morning. Around 200 litres of Coca-Cola concentrate spilled out into Union Street during a delivery.

Leading Firefighter Colin Taylor said his team first had to stop the syrup slipping into drains until any safety issues had been addressed.

But once environmental services gave the all-clear water was used to wash the spill away.