Burns victim 'doused in petrol'

Neighbours say the attacker jumped over the garden wall

A man who sustained "horrific burns" at a Hartlepool house was doused in petrol, police said.

The 38-year-old was attacked on the doorstep of the property in Annandale Crescent by a man who jumped over the front garden wall, say neighbours.

The victim ran back inside the house and was recovered by firefighters, then taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Hospital, where he is critically ill.

Police want to trace a group of people earlier seen arguing in the garden.

The two men and two women were spotted a few hours before the attack, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday.

A neighbour, who tried to rescue the victim, was overcome by smoke and suffered leg injuries when he jumped from a window.

Det Supt Gordon Lang, of Cleveland Police's murder investigation team, is leading an inquiry into the incident.

Mr Lang said: "Our information at the moment would suggest that a person has doused our victim in petrol, doused the house in petrol and then that petrol has been set on fire.

"The exact sequence of that has yet to be established. Our victim sustained quite horrific injuries and is also suffering from smoke inhalation."

Anyone with information should contact police.