A MAN has died after dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire in the front garden of his estranged wife's house.

Neighbours called police when they saw the man, who has not yet been named, outside the property, in Rectory Close, Newchurch, carrying a petrol can.

He then poured the petrol on himself, and further "hysterical" phone calls were made to police by neighbours to say that he was on fire.

Police, a fire crew and paramedics were called to the scene, but there was nothing they could do to save him.

His injuries were so severe that he died at the scene.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she was alerted to the incident by a screaming neighbour.

She said: "I did not see what happened, but one of the neighbours was in hysterics.

"I went out and saw the fire in the garden so I came back to phone the police. It was a bit of a shock."

It is not yet known whether he accidentally set himself alight, or whether he had intended to do it.

But police said he was someone known to them as being suicidal and he had doused himself in petrol before.

He was found with the petrol can and a cigarette lighter next to him.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barlow said: "It appears that this man, for whatever reason, has turned up at his estranged wife's house with petrol, which has come to be all over him and has ended up on fire.

"Unfortunately, his injuries were so severe that he has died. We are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident."