A MAN was rushed to hospital after a caravan went up in flames in Dorchester.

Emergency services were called to the Railway Triangle Caravan Park at the Railway Triangle Industrial Estate earlier this morning.

A man in his 40s was taken to Dorset County Hospital by paramedics as firefighters tackled the blaze.

Police say the male is in a life threatening condition.

Two fire crews from Dorchester and one from Weymouth attended the scene and quickly managed to extinguish the blaze, however they remained on scene amid concerns about the gas main connected to the property.

Station manager Jason Rogers said: “We had a single caravan involved in fire and one casualty who was assisted by neighbours.

“When we arrived at the scene he was outside of the caravan.”

He added: “The fire was under control very quickly and we were delayed managing the mains gas supply.”

Clinical support officer for the South Western Ambulance Service Adam Collinge said a rapid response vehicle, ambulance and two other vehicles had attended the scene after receiving the call at 7.29am.

He said at the scene: “We had a male with severe neck injuries who has down gone up to hospital for surgery.”

Officers from Dorset Police also attended at the caravan park.

One local resident, who did not wish to be named, said the fire started some time after 7am and quickly took hold of the caravan.

He said: “The whole caravan has been burnt out.”