A MAN was undergoing treatment for "life-threatening" burns today, after a blaze broke out on four canal boats in Abergavenny yesterday.

Firefighters from Abergavenny were called to Oak Lane, near Llanellen, at midday yesterday after reports of a fire on four boats moored on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

A 72-year-old man from Pontypridd was taken to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, before being transferred Morriston Hospital in Swansea, to received treatment for his injuries, which police described as "potentially life-threatening."

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the man had serious burns to his face, chest, hands and forearms.

It is understood he had been working on his canal boat at the time of the incident.

Police and fire officers were last night working to find out what had caused the fire, although a fire service spokeswoman said it was accidental and was put out by 1.18pm.

The fire took place among the group of around 20 boats moored up along the canal.

On the scene yesterday a green canal boat has been gutted, leaving just a shell, while the back of a white boat was charred.

Another white boat floating in the middle of the two appeared to have been completely destroyed by the fire, leaving only the hull of the craft.

A spokeswoman for British Waterways, whose officers were also at the scene of the incident, said pollution booms were placed into the canal to stop any contamination from spreading in the water.

She said the canal was open for navigation.