MOTORISTS watched in horror when a woman ignited into a human fireball at a Bromsgrove petrol station.

The disturbing incident at the Esso Forest Service Station, in Birmingham Road, has left the woman with 50 per cent burns and her condition was yesterday "critical but stable".

She had driven onto the forecourt in an S registration blue Ford Fiesta and, an eyewitness claims, 'she poured a quantity of petrol on her head before setting herself on fire.'

Quick-thinking onlookers threw sand and water over the woman, whose head and upper body was engulfed in flames, while the 999 emergency services dashed to the scene at 12.45pm on Thursday (Aug 15).

An eyewitness, who declined to be named, told the Advertiser/Messenger: "I thought there was a fire at the station but then I saw a woman burning from the waist upwards. It's the most shocking thing I've ever seen.

"A friend was in the garage buying lunch and he said the woman had lifted the nozzle above her head, doused herself with fuel and then set it alight.

"The forecourt was full and I saw a child watching in the back of another driver's car.

"The woman collapsed onto the floor and it was clear she was in great pain when the ambulance took her away.

"She looked about thirty years old."

Bromsgrove Fire Station's Blue watch attended and a spokesman confirmed firefighters had also assisted police at the Jet Garage, in Birmingham Road, where a woman had poured petrol over her hand and head the previous day.

Police would not confirm if the two incidents were linked and bosses at both garages were unable to comment.

While the burn victim is being treated at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham, police officers investigating the incident have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

A police spokeswoman, who could not confirm if the incident was a deliberate act, said: "Part of the investigation will include how the woman came to be on fire."

The Esso garage closed for several hours while forensic examinations were carried out.

Anyone with information can call police on 01527 837000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.