A BUS driver from Great Hollands is struggling to walk after his e-cigarette battery exploded in his trouser pocket, leaving his leg with severe burns.

James Barnes, 31, had to be treated at a specialist burns unit in West London having initially been rushed straight to Frimley Park Hospital.

The incident happened on the morning of Thursday, March 26 when James was driving down Bagshot Road on his way to work.

Having first heard a “sizzling noise”, James was forced to slam on his brakes and jump out of his car as his leg quickly went up in flames.

Remarkably, James was able to put out the fire and then drive home before he was later taken to A&E.

He told the News: “I didn’t really feel much pain at the time because the adrenaline was kicking in.

“When I got home I realised I was in more pain than what I first thought.”

After spending almost three hours at Frimley Park, James was transferred to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London where his wound was cleaned and dressed up.

The bus driver now has to go back to West London twice a week for check ups on his leg, and it could be up to three months before James is able to receive a skin graft.

Data from research group Euromonitor estimates the number of adults who vape will reach 55 million by 2021, with 35 million globally already using the e-cigarettes in 2016.

The United Kingdom has the third biggest vaping market in the world after the USA and Japan, according to Euromonitor International.

But in May 2018 a man in America died after his vape pen exploded and since then safety concerns have been raised about the e-cigarettes.

James told the News his e-cigarette was “fine” until it exploded, having had it for only three months.

He warned fellow vapers: “Make sure the they are kept in their safety box and don’t carry them in your pocket.”