A chef suffered serious burns when a deep fat fryer exploded showering him in boiling oil in a hotel in Linlithgow.

The 30-year-old chef had 12% burns to his shoulder, the top of his back, left arm and around his ear.

Two ambulance crews raced to the West Port Hotel after the accident happened at around 9am on Wednesday.

According to the Scottish Ambulance Service an oil drum thought to be connected to the deep fat fryer exploded injured the chef.

A spokesman said: "We received a 999 call to attend the West Port Hotel. We had reports of an oil drum exploding. A chef had been burned with boiling hot oil.

"We transported him to St John's Hospital. The injuries are not life-threatening but his condition is unknown and thought to be serious.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: "We attended an incident in the kitchen at the West Port Hotel in Linlithgow at 9am.

"A deep fat fryer had spilled oil after overheating.We treated a 30-year-old male for burns, using gel packs until the ambulance crew arrived."

No one was available to comment at the West Port Hotel.