A WOMAN was fighting for her life in hospital after apparently setting herself on fire.

The naked woman flagged down shocked motorists in Waters Meeting Road, Astley Bridge, on Friday afternoon.

The Asian woman, aged 48, is believed to have struggled up steps by the side of the road which lead to a woodland clearing after setting fire to herself using white spirit and matches.

Denise Gleaves, of The Beeches, was driving home from Total Fitness gym when she spotted the woman at the side of the road.

She said: "I stopped and she said: 'Can you help me?' She was completely burnt from head to toe. It was a big shock and a terrible thing to see -- her skin was peeling off and her clothes were burnt away. In one hand she was carrying a bottle of white spirit and in the other, a box of matches."

Mrs Gleaves flagged down another car and Syd Lomax and his wife Dorothy, of Holden Avenue, Sharples, stopped to help.

Mrs Lomax used her mobile phone to contact emergency services who talked her through how to help the woman until an ambulance arrived.

She ran to get some cups of water from a snack cabin further along the road which is run by Anne Bowden.

Mrs Bowden said: "We had no idea what was happening, then this woman came running up demanding water. It is very shocking and a lot of people were driving past as she the woman stood there. She was in a real mess."

After they doused the woman with water and covered her with an overcoat an ambulance arrived and took her to the Royal Bolton Hospital. She was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital. A plastic bag from B&Q was collected by police at the scene, and the steps leading down to the woodland were sealed off.