A MAN is in a critical condition in hospital after sustaining horrific burns in a flat fire in Bury.

Firefighters were called to a property in Kestrel Drive, near Hoyles Park, at around 2am this morning (Saturday).

The blaze was extinguished but a man, thought to be in his 20s, was taken to hospital.

Neighbour David McLoughlin described seeing the man running from his home  engulfed in flames and, along with other brave neighbours, tried to pour water on him and get him away from the blaze.

"All I heard was screaming, loads of screaming," he told The Bury Times.

"There was just a ball of fire, the guy was on fire in the street."

Another neighbour, Robert Adcock, described seeing the flames coming from the building.

He said: "We heard the smoke alarm going off about 2am but then the glass from the windows started exploding. All the flames and smoke were coming out of the house."

Police and the fire service have opened a joint investigation into the incident although it is not being treated as suspicious.

Crime scene tape was put up outside the home and there is expected to be an emergency service presence in the area throughout the day.