A "badly burnt" Maldon resident who was injured in a weed burner blaze on Monday was left waiting over an hour for an ambulance to arrive.

The injured man was rescued from his shed by a neighbour, who spotted smoke after a weed burner set the man's shed on fire at his home on Gloucester Avenue.

The East of England Ambulance Service was called at 2.42pm but did not arrive until 80 minutes later, at 4.02pm.

Neighbours, who wish to remain anonymous, said the man was "badly burnt" and called the experience of waiting for the ambulance "horrific".

The incident was initially classed as an urgent but not life-threatening category three call, but was upgraded to category one - life-threatening and in need of immediate intervention - before the ambulance arrived.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said the initial call was "abandoned" as the service "lost the line".

The incident was upgraded from category three to category two - an emergency or potentially serious condition - following a second call at 2.42pm.

The call was finally upgraded to category one at 3.59pm, before the ambulance crew arrived at 4.02pm.

Firefighters from Maldon and South Woodham Ferrers, who were called to the scene at 2.36pm, gave first aid to the man while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

They extinguished the blaze by 3.25pm.

Martin Cable, the watch manager at Maldon Fire Station, said in a statement on Monday: "Crews acted quickly to treat the man's burns while we waited for our colleagues in the ambulance service.

"I'd like to praise the man's neighbour who spotted the smoke and acted quickly to rescue the man from the scene and reassure him until we arrived alongside the ambulance service."

Neighbours reported that they also helped to treat the man while waiting for the ambulance.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "At the time we received this call we were experiencing very high demand for 999 services for patients with immediately life-threatening injuries and illnesses, which unfortunately meant that some patients had longer waits.

"We would like to apologise for any additional stress this caused.

"We would welcome those involved to contact us directly so that we can look into and provide support on any concerns they may have."

The man was taken to Broomfield Hospital for further treatment.

His condition is currently unknown.