A man in his 20s almost died after he was impaled on spiked metal railings in Melksham on Sunday.

Paul Smith, 26, was working on a flat roof at the All Things Chic shop in Bank Street, in the town centre, when he slipped from a ladder at about 8.45am.

He landed on the spiked iron railings which border Perrets Court, about a metre below the roof, and became impaled about six feet above the ground, suffering serious injuries to his abdomen and back.

Three friends who were nearby rushed to lift him off the spikes and give first aid. Paramedics were soon on the scene and gave Mr Smith pain relief before he was taken by ambulance to the fields at the old George Ward School, from where the air ambulance flew him to the Royal United Hospital in Bath. A surgical team were awaiting his arrival after the six-minute flight, and operated on him straight away.

He is still recovering in hospital. Mr Smith, who is believed to be from the London area, is said to be in a stable condition.