A man in his 50s was taken to hospital with leg injuries and burns today after a disused oil barrel he was handling exploded and triggered a chemical incident.

Fire crews from Dereham, Fakenham, Sprowston, Massingham and Hethersett were called out at about 9am to Rawhall Lane, Beetley, near Dereham.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the man was blown backwards by the force of the blast and was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for treatment.