A man who turned himself into a human fireball after setting himself alight in Bradford City Centre has been transferred to a specialist burns unit in Liverpool.

The incident occurred outside Tyrls Police Station last night when a man approached the security window carrying a can of petrol and a lighter.

Philip Brockbank, security guard at the Tyrls Police Station, said a frantic man knocked on the window at about 7pm brandishing a lighter in one hand and a can of petrol in the other.

Mr Brockbank, 38, turned his back to call the police but when he looked round he saw a "human fireball" at the window.

Mr Brockbank, who works for Manchester-based Capricorn Security, immediately ran outside with a fire extinguisher and put out the flames. He said: "It was like something out of a horror movie. I have never seen anything like it.

"All his face was black and he was just screaming and shouting. Everyone was watching from a distance but nobody was coming to help. That frustrated me more than anything.

"They said he had 80 per cent burns for a start, then they said it was more like 40 per cent burns. All his clothing had burnt away. I broke down afterwards because I couldn't believe what I had just seen. It was horrendous."

Harvey Stewart, watch manager at Bradford Fire Station, said the security guard could be credited with saving the man's life if he survived.

Mr Stewart said: "We got a call at 7.09pm that a person was on fire opposite the Alhambra outside the old police station.

"He grabbed two fire extinguishers and put this person out. We came along and applied specialist burn shields to some of his body to take the pain and heat out.

"The injured man is not a local person. We think he was in his early 30s. Mr Brockbank has done a fantastic job. If the man lives, then he will have undoubtedly saved his life.

"We will be looking to do something for Mr Brockbank - possibly an award."

Police confirmed they had been called to reports of a man on fire outside the old police station at 7.10pm.