A woman in Britain was badly burned today when petrol ignited as she was transferring it between containers.
The incident comes amid a threat to petrol and diesel supplies across Britain on foot of a possible strike by tanker drivers.
The woman was decanting fuel from one container to another in the house in York when it ignited and set fire to her clothing, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.
She was taken to hospital with 40 per cent burns to her body. Two firefighters put out the fire and removed the remaining petrol.
A fire service spokesman today warned people about storing petrol in their homes.
Fears about a strike have led to long queues at some petrol stations and to criticism of the government's handling of the situation.
Police yesterday closed some petrol stations in Dorset and other parts of England because queues were causing traffic difficulties.
British union leaders said today, however, that fuel tanker drivers would not strike over Easter to allow more time to focus on talks aimed at resolving a dispute that threatens to disrupt fuel supplies.
"We will not be calling Easter strike action as we focus on substantive talks," said Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland.
"We do still retain the right to call strike action for after Easter should those talks break down."