A MAN who suffered a massive electric shock at an electricity sub-station may have been trying to steal copper piping.

The 38-year-old man is said to have ignored warning signs on the substation, in Great Wakering.

He was left with 25 per cent burns across his body as the shock melted parts of his skin and clothing to the transformer.

Firefighters were called to the Brickworks, in Star Lane, Great Wakering. They used a hammer drill to demolish a wall and free him, just before 8pm on Monday.

He is now being treated at the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

The man is believed to have been trying to steal copper piping from the station, which can be sold to scrapyards.

Police spokesman Alan Jones said officers were aware of the allegations and might speak to the man once he had recovered.

Fire assistant divisional officer Pete Bennett, who was in charge of the incident, told the Echo just after the rescue: "The man poked a big metal bar into the sub-station - despite warnings of the danger - and touched the generator inside.

"The whole thing went bang, throwing him back and giving him a nasty shock."