Loch Voil. Photo: John Wigham

A camper was taken to hospital after accidentally setting himself alight when he poured fuel on to an open fire.

The incident, near Loch Voil in Balquhidder Glen, happened on the first day of a police operation to clamp down on unruly behaviour in the southern Highlands.

A spokesperson for Central Scotland Police said the 21-year-old man was burned after he poured petrol on to a campfire on Friday night, the first day of Operation Ironworks.

Chief Inspector Kevin Findlater said: “Four men were camping in Balquhidder Glen near Loch Voil and one of them poured petrol on to the campfire against the advice of those he was with. His clothes, which had splashes of fuel on them, caught fire.

“His friends rushed him to the loch and doused him in water. He still suffered burns and blistering and his friends did their best to keep him warm and comfortable.”

Operation Ironworks is a joint venture involving three police forces, rangers from the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority and Forestry Commission Scotland staff, in an effort to cut down on nuisance behaviour by groups of wild campers and other visitors to the national park.

The camper’s companions called an ambulance when his condition deteriorated and he was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary. He was discharged on Saturday, suffering minor burns.

Ch Insp Findlater continued: “This was a foolhardy incident which put the victim and those he was with at risk. The consequences could have been far more serious and the fire could easily have spread out of control.”

A public consultation on banning wild camping on Loch Lomond’s shores, including a 17km (10½-mile) stretch of the West Highland Way, ends next week.