A MAN who appeared in his front garden engulfed in flames was last night fighting for his life.

The distressing scene on a housing estate in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was witnessed by a number of neighbours and children in the street at the time.

A major investigation is underway after the man - named locally as Stephen Walker - suffered serious burns outside his Walker Drive home at about 8pm on Sunday (May 26) evening.

The 30-year-old was last night (Monday) described as being in a “really poorly” condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.

Detective Inspector Caroline Dawson, of Durham Police, said: “This is an extremely distressing incident for family, friends and people who witnessed it.

“The condition of the victim is really poorly and we are getting regular updates from the hospital.

“We have got a considerable team of detectives working on this case and are doing everything we can to try and understand what has happened.”

A police officer patrolling Woodhouse Close Estate found the man on fire and alerted the fire brigade.

Three fire engines rushed to the scene after County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service received a report that a man had set himself on fire.

The firefighters also had to extinguish a small blaze in the ground floor of the terraced property.

Durham Police has launched a joint investigation with the fire brigade but are still trying to determine the exact cause.

A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call that a man had set himself on fire at 8.01pm.

“We sent two appliances but then received further information that the house was on fire so we sent another appliance to the scene.

“This was a small fire on the ground floor of the property.

“There is going to be a joint investigation with the police to establish what has happened.”

Witnesses to the incident, or anyone with any information, are asked to call Durham Police on 101.