HORRIFIED onlookers told of the moment they witnessed a man turn into a human fireball at an East Lancashire caravan park.

Residents at the Holden Mill park, Grane Road, Haslingden, looked on as the man doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire.

The man, Frank Logan, 64, suffered serious burns in what police believe was a prank gone wrong.

Neighbours rushed to his aid as he ran screaming from his caravan in flames and stripped him of his burning clothes before dousing him in cold water.

Police, fire crews and paramedics were all called to the scene at about 8pm and Mr Logan was taken to hospital before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester.

His condition was today described as stable.

Next door neighbour Steve Dunn, 43, said: "I was sitting in my caravan when I heard a dull thud and I looked across to Frank's van and I could see it was on fire. I went out and as I approached the door he came flying out like a fireball. I got him on to the ground and rolled him around to get the flames out before the amulance arrived."

Residents at the caravan park said Mr Logan had been living there for around two months after splitting from his wife.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "It was absolutely horrifying. Somebody ran up to say one of the caravans was on fire but then we saw a man running out in flames. Several of us got hold of him and stripped his clothes off before pouring water on him before the fire crews and ambulance arrived."

Det Sgt Martin Melvin, of Rossendale CID, said: "We are looking into the blaze and it seems at this stage that this man has set himself on fire."