Escapologist Antony Britton is facing a race against time to be ready for a high-risk stunt – after being badly injured during rehearsals for a new show.

The Linthwaite daredevil was trying out a variation on one of escapology’s most famous stunts last week – freeing his feet from burning ropes while suspended upside down in mid-air.

However, the burning ropes got twisted around his right leg – causing an horrific burn at the back of his leg just above the ankle. Antony’s assistants lowered him quickly to the ground and he was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for treatment.

However, the wound became seriously infected and his ankle swelled up – leaving Antony unable to walk properly for several days.

The horrific burn to the back of his leg sustained by Linthwaite escapologist Antony Britton when he was rehearsing for a new show

He is now on a course of strong antibiotics to fight the infection and is making daily trips to his GP for the dressing on his wound to be changed.

The mishap has left a question mark over Antony’s plans to stage a repeat of last November’s “fire run” – when he set a new world record for the longest distance “full body burn” without oxygen.

Antony Britton on a practice run for his fundraising "firerun" to take place on November 4

Antony had planned to try beating his own record in June in the grounds of Huddersfield Grammar School at Marsh, but postponed the bid out of respect for the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London.

The fire run was re-scheduled for October 13 – and Antony is determined to undertake the stunt next month, despite his leg injury.

He said: “I am all right up to a point. The doctors are not too sure about this fire run and say if I did it I risk getting another infection. But I will be right as long as I can run with the leg bandaged up.

One of his team, Mark Stannage, said: “We are keeping an eye on things and Antony is being looked after by medical professionals. However, training cannot resume until they are happy that his body can take the strain and right now it just can’t.”

The horrific burn to the back of his leg sustained by Linthwaite escapologist Antony Britton when he was rehearsing for a new show

Russel Erwood, another member of Antony’s crew, said: “Antony is determined that he will smash the Guinness World Record regardless of what anyone says on October 13, but his recent injury is very concerning. We’re hoping that things improve quickly.”

Antony’s first fire run last November saw him cover more than 180 metres on one breath of oxygen while cloaked in flames while wearing anti-burn barrier gel, three pairs of overalls, balaclavas and boots.

He now wants to cover more than 200 metres – if and when he repeats the feat in October with adjudicators from the Guinness Book of Records in attendance to verify his challenge.