Man in critical condition after being found on fire outside restaurant

A 26-year-old man has been airlifted to hospital after being found on fire outside a Frankie and Benny's restaurant in England.

Emergency services were called to Sandbrook Retail Park in Rochdale at around 11.20am today following reports that a man was on fire, Greater Manchester Police said.

The man was found to be suffering from severe burns from the waist down, including his hands, a spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service said.

He was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, which has a specialist burns unit, by air ambulance, she added.

Greater Manchester Police said the man remains in a "critical condition" and inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 11.19am and firefighters and officers were called to the restaurant.

"On arrival there had been a fire, but it was out by the time we got there."

She added that firefighters gave first aid to the man before he was airlifted to hospital.