THE heroic, quick-thinking actions of staff at Revolutions in Chippenham to help a lady on fire have been praised by police officers and paramedics.

The elderly woman, who was smoking outside the restaurant on Saturday lunchtime when her handbag and then dress caught alight, was helped by waitress Sarah Heath and main chef Patrick Hill.

The pair poured water over the victim and phoned 999, following their instructions, until an ambulance could arrive.

Paramedics say that the quick thinking and good work of staff helped save her from further harm.

The lady was taken by road ambulance to hospital and later airlifted from Southmead Hospital to Swansea Burns Unit.

Revolutions owner Sandie Webb said: “From what we can gather it seems that something in her handbag caught on fire, she must have dropped something.

“She was walking in with her handbag asking for water to put it out but it was noticed her hand bag was on fire and it was stamped out.

“The breeze caught a spark which caught her dress, it went up in seconds, it was pretty dangerous.

“Our waitress and chef, they are only young, but they had the forethought to act and sat with her for 20 minutes. We are so proud of them.”

After the lady was taken safely by road ambulance to hospital, Mrs Webb cleared up before the restaurant could complete a full lunchtime service.

She added: “A regular customer brought in a card because he saw the whole thing. He said without them they don’t know what would have happened. He had known the lady for years.”