A MAN is fighting for his life after suffering horrific injuries when he set himself alight and turned himself into a human fireball.

Police said the 36-year-old man poured petrol on himself and struck a light in a "fit of rage" after a row with his wife.

Neighbours named the man as Arthur Eland, of Ash Terrace, Catchgate, near Stanley, County Durham.

They said he was spotted running from his house into the street, tearing at his burning clothes.

It is believed his teenage son saw him on fire and ran inside the house to raise the alarm. Mr Eland's wife called an ambulance.

Inspector Ian Proud, of Stanley police, said: "Police were called to an address in Catchgate, where a man had set himself on fire.

"An ambulance had been called and the injured party told police he'd been arguing with his wife.

"He had poured petrol from a jerry can and set fire to himself. He ran down the street tearing burning clothing off."

Susan Cox, 50, who lives next door, was watching television when she heard a scream and saw a orange glow pass her window.

She said: "I saw a ball of flame and thought: 'What on Earth was that?'

"It did not register at first but it did look like a person. It was like something out of a horror film when someone is running on fire and the flames are coming out behind them."

Mrs Cox looked out of the window and could not see anybody but saw that the rear wheel of the Hyundai vehicle next door was on fire.

She woke her husband Ivan, 40, who works in a local pizza shop, and told him to move his Ford Escort in case it was damaged.

He went out and put the tyre fire out but found a pile of burning clothes about ten metres away.

Paramedics gave Mr Eland medical attention at his house before taking him to hospital for specialist treatment.

Mrs Cox said: "I heard yelling from the house, so he must have been in some considerable pain.

"He could not get on a stretcher, and when he came out, he was bent double and could not straighten up."

Mr Cox said: "We always chat about cars with the other men in the street. I think he is a canny enough lad."

Police said Mr Eland, known locally as Tippy, told them he did not know why he had done it.

Insp Proud said: "It had been done in a fit of rage. Now he is seriously injured."

Mr Eland was taken to Newcastle General Hospital after the incident, which took place at about 2am last Saturday, before being transferred to the burns unit at the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Mr Eland suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body and yesterday his condition was described as "critical but stable".

He is thought to work at a plant nursery at Tanfield Lea, near Stanley.