The celebrations in connection with the Siggiewi feast yesterday morning were marred with the serious injury of an 11-year-old boy whose clothes caught fire while he was playing with shredded paper. The police reported that the boy was in critical condition last night.

A police constable, who intervened to put out the boy’s clothes, as well as the boy’s mother and sister were also hospitalised to be treated for the injuries they sustained.

A police statement said the boy and his three-year-old sister were playing with papers in St Marguerite Street in Siggiewi when, all of a sudden, these caught fire which immediately spread to the boy’s clothes.

A policeman who was in the vicinity managed to put out the clothes which were on fire but the boy still sustained serious injuries due to burns.

The boy was rushed to hospital where he was found to be suffering from serious injuries and was in a critical condition.

The policeman and the 40-year-old mother suffered extensive burns and were held for observation while the girl was treated and sent home.

The police constable also extinguished papers which had been blown by the wind into a residence nearby.

Duty Magistrate Giovanni Grixti was informed about the case. He appointed a number of court experts to assist him with the magisterial inquiry.

Police are investigating.