Four people were injured during Elche's 'Moors and Christians' festivities last night when an arquebus (primitive musket) exploded, injuring three members of the 'Astures' Christian chapter.

A woman that lives in a fifth-floor flat of a building nearby was also injured by a combination of shrapnel and flying glass.

The accident occurred at around 9pm in in the Plaza Obispo Siurí as one of the arquebusiers, a 32-year-old man, was test-firing his weapon when it exploded, amputating three fingers of his right hand and inflicting a serious head injury.

A second man (37) suffered a broken leg while a third (35) sprained his ankle, and was treated at a local health centre.

The three most seriously-injured were taken to Elche Hospital while two other women were treated at the scene for shock.