A 14-year-old Pakistani boy badly burned in a bomb blast in Kashmir has been brought to Bradford by relatives in an attempt to raise funds for two much-needed operations.

Waqas Saddique suffered bad burns on his arms and legs and cut veins after being caught by the bomb in December 1999. It is thought the explosive was planted in a car by terrorists.

The youngster spent more than three months in a Kashmir hospital where he was treated for burns.

But he now needs two expensive operations, costing about £8,000, so he can have vital plastic surgery to carry out skin grafts on all four limbs.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqas's brother-in-law, paid for the youngster to come to England in February and is looking after the teenager while the cash is raised.

Mr Ahmed, who lives in Princeville Road, Bradford, said: "Waqas's family could not afford to pay for the operation in Kashmir.

"I have paid for the flight to get Waqas over here and he is staying with me at present."

Waqas has seen a specialist at St James's University Hospital in Leeds. He has been accepted as a private patient at the hospital and will have the first of the operations on August 18.

"Waqas has a visa for six months but he now only has about one month of it left," said Mr Ahmed. "He really needs two operations. He must have them privately as he is not a British native. If he can have this operation before his visa runs out then we can probably extend the visa which will enable the second operation to be performed.

"I have sent his passport to the Home Office and we are hoping that a new, extended visa - for six months to a year - will be granted."

The only other stumbling block is that although half the money has been raised by family and friends, a further £4,000 is needed for the second operation.

Mr Ahmed said: "I have helped to put the money in but can't afford it all. Any help would be much appreciated to help Waqas. Hopefully these operations would give him help as he grows up and then he could return home."

Anyone wanting to help raise money for Waqas's operations can contact Mr Ahmed on 0785 5244183.