A WOMAN was badly burned when a gas stove exploded and engulfed her head in flames as she cooked burgers in a fast-food trailer.

Elizabeth Donaghy, 43, of Swallow Drive, Blackburn, was leaning over the cooker in the Ranch House Steak Bar, on Pleasington playing fields, Blackburn, when the blast happened, according to witnesses.

The accident, believed to have been caused by a gas leak, happened as scores of amateur footballers and fans prepared for kick-off on Saturday afternoon's matches at 3pm.

Majid Hussain, of Blackburn, was queuing for food and said: "A big flame shot out and caught her in the face. We ducked down and we heard the woman shouting, 'someone help me'."

Amateur footballer Barry Thompson was standing at the front of the queue and said the only warning was a slight smell of gas before flames shot out of the hatch, singeing his face and hair.

Barry, 31, of Darwen, said: "Suddenly it just went up in my face. I ran to the door to get the lady out. Her face was burnt and her kagoul had melted on to her."

Barry, Majid and some other bystanders dragged the kagoul off Ms Donaghy while Barry's fellow player with the Blackburn Combination side Blue Star, Andrew Kelly, ran to the back of the van and switched off the gas bottles supplying the cooker.

Andrew, of Bolton Road, Ewood, then went inside, found a container of water and doused the flames.

Paramedics took Ms Donaghy, who suffered burns to her face and hands, to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Ms Donaghy was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at the Royal Preston Hospital, where she was today said to be comfortable.

Sub officer Eric Trotter, of Blackburn fire service, said the explosion was thought to have been caused by a leak in the gas cooking system.