Shocked residents who saw the woman turn into a fireball grabbed towels to wrap round her in a bid to extinguish the flames engulfing the 42-year-old mother.

The woman, who has not been named, is thought to have doused her body in petrol before torching herself as she stood on the green in Church Walk, Farcet, yesterday.

As she staggered across the grass in agony, people fought in vain to put out the flames, which were leaping several feet into the air.

Residents spoke later of their desperation because no matter what they did, they could not put out the flames.

Firefighters and paramedics were quickly on the scene and took the victim to Peterborough District Hospital.

However, despite efforts to treat her severe burns, she died at about midnight last night.

Today, residents who are still reeling from what they witnessed, told of the frantic efforts to save her.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "My partner looked out of the window and said a woman was on fire.

"When I looked out, I could see a man trying to help her.

"I quickly picked up a towel and rushed to see what I could do.

"Her skin had started to burn. She wasn't able to speak, and whenever we thought the flames had gone out, they would come back again.

"It was such a terrible thing to see."

It is believed that the victim did not live in Farcet, but had connections to the city.

Another resident said she was looking out of the window of her flat opposite in Marshalls Way, when she saw the woman on fire.

She said: "I have never seen anything like it. The flames were so high.

"At first I wasn't sure what was going on, but then I realised someone was on fire.

"The person living above me ran out and tried to put out the flames.

"It is a sleepy village and for something like that to happen is just dreadful. I hope I never see anything like it again."

Mother-of-one Sandra Leeson, also of Marshalls Way, had just arrived home when she saw the emergency services arrive.

She said: "When I heard that someone had set themself on fire I just couldn't believe it.

"You never hear of anything like this happening."

nAnybody who saw the incident should call police on 0845 456 4564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.