THE wife of a man who suffered burns in a holiday accident spoke of her relief to be back home yesterday.

Bernard Earnshaw received 45 per cent third-degree burns when a can of barbecue lighter fluid exploded in his hand while he was in the Algarve.

He was in a Portuguese hospital for 34 days, while his daughter, Clare Weatherill, set about raising money to pay for an emergency medical flight to London.

And yesterday, back at home in Norton, North Yorkshire, his wife, Christine Earnshaw, thanked well-wishers and people who contributed to the fund.

She said: "When I got back and saw the letters and realised what had been going on, I wept because it was so touching.

"It is going to be a big step when he finally comes home as his needs are going to be different, but we can't wait."

The couple flew into Heathrow Airport last week and he was taken to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.