An East Sussex man was rushed to hospital last night after being badly burned while working on his car.

The 36-year-old suffered burns to his left hand, his left leg, his face and his tongue when the fire broke out at about 6.20pm.

He had been doing some welding work on his car in the garage of his home in Harbour View Road, Newhaven.

East Sussex Fire Brigade said the tool he was using may have hit the battery, creating a spark and starting the blaze.

Sussex Ambulance Service took the man to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The garage was not badly damaged, said the fire brigade spokesman.