A YOUNG mother is being treated in hospital after becoming a human fireball in a horrifying scene outside her home.

Kerri O'Sullivan, 28, of Whitegate Gardens, Padiham, is believed to have set herself alight in the incident in the early hours of yesterday.

Shocked neighbours rushed to help as the mother-of-four's partner put out the flames by rolling her on the grass and dousing her in water.

He is at her bedside at Liverpool's Whiston Hospital, while her children are staying with relatives.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It was around midnight and I heard some noise and went out. Two neighbours were already comforting her. Her children were awake and screaming and I got hold of them and brought them in to keep them out of the way while her partner was putting water on her.

"One of the neighbours had phoned for an ambulance and fire crew. We backed off and allowed them to deal with her.

"We don't know what exactly has gone on. We just helped her the best way we could.

"She was conscious but I could not see what kind of burns they were as it was quite dark. It's not something that you want to see. You don't want it to happen to anyone.

"She's a lovely girl. She's very tidy and always with the kids. She keeps herself to herself. She has just come off holiday. It's unexpected as far as we can see. She has a little baby."

Another neighbour said: "We just talked to her and stopped her from losing consciousness. Her partner put wet towels around her. He went into overdrive. He was proper panicking and did his best and put towels on her and kept wetting her with water and rolled her around. He did his best really."

Ms O'Sullivan's children range from seven months to 11-years-old. She has lived at the address for three years.

Fire fighters praised neighbours for their quick-thinking help.

Padiham watch manager Duncan Barker-Brown said: "The fire service administered first aid and oxygen to the casualty. An ambulance crew arrived and took over the treatment.

"The neighbours were superb and helped immensely, using wet towels to help cool her down. I think she had burnt quite a lot of herself."

Insp Dave Croll of Burnley Police said: "We had three calls from the fire service reporting a lady on fire. We arrived to find her conscious. She was transferred to Preston Hospital and then Liverpool. An investigation is ongoing and she is in a stable condition.

"The indications are that it was self-inflicted. "